I have gotten a summons in a civil action today about a website I was running.
I was buying the keyword of their business name to draw traffic to a review page that compared their product to another one.
The site was not slanderous at all and what was stated was fact.
I am not sure exactly how to respond to this. It says “you must serve on the plaintiff an answer to the attached complaint or motion under rule 12 of the fed rules of civil procedure.
Does anyone have any advice? I think this is part of something bigger as others have tried to sue Google for infringement.
Any advice would be great or if you need more information just let me know.
Thank you!
Also, I did email the attorney saying that I have ceased and diseased the site and google adwords campaign.
I had no idea that this was this big of a deal. It was just a simple one page review site that is now causing all this trouble.
In all honesty, the only useful advice I can give you is to contact your attorney ASAP so that you can discuss your case in confidence and determine what your rights and liabilities are with regards to this particular complaint. From there, you can decide whether you simply want to take the website down or file an answer to the complaint.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible for any strangers here to provide you substantive advice since we are not apprised of the specific facts of this case and we do not have a copy of the complaint. Some causes of action are legitimate, while others may be absolute B.S. Your attorney will be able to judge this after reviewing the complaint.
Also, as a bit of practical advice, given that this is a real case in a real court of law, you should not disclose any further details in a public forum.
Written on February 13th, 2010 by hsfideasno shouts
Google Mashups Policy?
It seems there’s a lot of mashups with Google products these days. What’s Google’s policy about someone creating a mashup using Google’s technology (maps or search results, etc.) on their on site and then running Adwords to make money on it? Is Google OK with this? Is it written somewhere?
This is totally ok, dont know whether it is written somewhere, but there 1000s of google mashups with google ads.
Google maps api even has a API to run add on the map itself. (different from google adwords banners) It is called gadsmanager, you just have to call this and enable it, and it will display ad marker pins on the map which will display google ads. You can also track this in your Google adsense using channels.
A new breakthrough secret is all you now need in order to get your Google AdWords pay-per-clicks FREE!A gentleman from New York discovered what he calls an “oversight” on the part of 99.9% of all marketers that allows him to get otherwise paid-for advertising at Google as well as all other search engines that allow sponsored ads.And no, nothing about his “secret” is illegal – nor does it require t…
Written on January 19th, 2010 by hsfideasno shouts
If you’re taking the step out into the wide world of Internet marketing, you’ve probably already made the decision of whether or not to launch a pay per click marketing campaign. But do you know the secrets of beating adwords? Or are you doomed to become just another statistic in Google’s game of cyberspace domination?
That may sound a bit melodramatic, but it’s true. Until you discover the secrets of beating AdWords you’re going to find yourself stuck in an endless volley with Google for web traffic and cost per click on your ads-and nine times out of ten you’re going to be the ball! Why? Because when it comes to AdWords, Google doesn’t play fair.
Google, as a search engine, is dedicated to providing its web browsers with information that is as accurate as possible for each of their searches, a policy that applies to their AdWords ads as well. In an effort to contain the SPAMMERS out there who want to take advantage of the popularity of AdWords to SPAM consumers around the globe, Google is constantly rearranging the guidelines that dictate where an ad will land in Google’s search index-or if it will find a listing at all.
The true secret of beating AdWords is learning how to make these rapidly changing policies work for you, and the real secret to beating Google at its own game.
If your adwords campaign isn’t properly optimized to bring you the most traffic and highest number of sales possible for everyone who clicks on your ad, you’re going to lose hundreds of dollars of your precious and probably already stretched far too thin marketing budget to aimless web browsers who have no intention of spending a dime. Every day there are hundreds of web surfers who click on AdWord ads solely because they can. These clicks will eat up your marketing budget before you know it.
And then there’s Google Slap, one of Google’s latest attempts to keep SPAMMERS off the web. If you fall prey to a Google Slap, your ad could be off the web before you know what hit you-and taking your web traffic with it.
The secret to beating AdWords is to develop an AdWords campaign built on the keywords that best define your business, not the ones listed on today’s best seller list, and to carefully format your webpage and landing page so not even the most suspicious of web PIs will suspect you of SPAM. You have to learn how Google’s little games work. More importantly, you have to learn how to make them work for you.
Beating AdWords isn’t difficult, but it does require you to do your homework to discover all of the dirty little secrets that Google doesn’t want you to know. If you research your options, plan out your advertising strategy carefully and choose to develop an AdWords campaign that will provide consistent results for your business (as opposed to one that’s here today, gone tomorrow) it won’t be long before your PPC campaign gives you the results you’ve been waiting for.
Search Buzz Roundup: 4/13/2008 – Yahoo Biz Issues, Google Local Update & SEO Trademarked
A new breakthrough secret is all you now need in order to get your Google AdWords pay-per-clicks FREE!A gentleman from New York discovered what he calls an “oversight” on the part of 99.9% of all marketers that allows him to get otherwise paid-for advertising at Google as well as all other search engines that allow sponsored ads.And no, nothing about his “secret” is illegal – nor does it require t…
Written on December 28th, 2009 by hsfideasno shouts
As you may know, Google is making an effort to scan every book
in the world. The goal is to create a giant online database of
every book that can be searched. One small problem is the fact
that Google is violating copyright laws.
Copyright
Google argues its book database doesn’t violate copyright laws.
The company suggests it only shows short passages and
accompanies the text with ads showcasing where the full books
can be purchased. Of course, the ads are Google Adwords from
which the company makes a tidy profit.
On Tuesday, the search goliath rolled out stand-alone book
search services in 14 countries. The same day, the Text and
Academic Authors Association (TAA) became the latest publishers’
organization to call Google’s opt-out strategy backwards.
Authors, Publishers and publishing associations are not happy.
While Google only publishes the full text of books in the public
domain, it is still copying entire books for which it has no
permission. Google claims it can do this because the books are
being scanned from versions owned by public libraries. Fearing
an avalanche of lawsuits, Google backed off.
In August, Google stopped scanning copyrighted books in public
library collections. At the same time, it gave publishers the
right to submit lists of books the publishers didn’t want
scanned. As you can image, publishers still aren’t happy.
The Arrogance of Google
Once viewed as the underdog to giants such as Microsoft, Google
continues to act like the local school bully. In this case, the
company has taken such an arrogant approach that lawsuits are
inevitable. Google is going to take a beating in the lawsuits
and here is why.
Consider the neighborhood you live in. What if a local crime
syndicate informed every household it was going to steal
everything in each household. Undoubtedly, there would be calls
of outrage. In response, what if the crime syndicate then
suggested you could send a list of items in your house that you
didn’t want stolen? This is exactly what Google is doing.
Google’s decision to scan every book in the world is idealistic,
but laughably simple minded. At a time when the recording
industry is suing teenagers for file swapping, one would think
Google would get a clue.
SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora – 04-23-2008
Written on November 12th, 2009 by hsfideasno shouts
Did you Google the Olympics last night? Why dont you just Google it? Go on! Google it? And so the story goes. If we are talking search engines, then Google is the big daddy of them all, usurping the likes of Yahoo! and its lesser known colleagues to stand tall on the dais collecting first place honours. But the question is for how long?
In 2006, search engine giant Google took offence to their trademark being used as a verb to describe surfing the net. This was around the time that Google achieved a ranking in the Oxford English Dictionary, and to google found its way into the Webster Dictionary, America number one reference guide. With concerns about their trademark being abused, Google began googling for a lawyer.
Fast forward to 2008, and a great deal has happened since the lawsuits. A Cold War has begun, and Google has now come under fire from within, and the Google metropolis may just catch a cold as a result of the newest kid on the search engine block.
Having its embryonic awakening inside the walls of the Google giant, the new generation search engine Cuil (phonetically pronounced cool), has been founded by ex-Google engineers, and they are ready to deliver a first class search engine that rivals their former employer.
Cuil, is from a Gaelic word meaning knowledge. The company is managed by the likes of Tom Costello and his wife, Anna Patterson; Anna was the architect of Google search index known as TeraGoogle. The pair and their team of engineers have positioned themselves with a unique selling position based on the meaning of cuil. For knowledge, ask Cuil. This subtle distinction suggests that Cuil is not about getting kicks out of clicks on their search engine, but want to provide a strategic and authoritative indexing experience for its users.
So is Cuil cool enough to knock the socks off the biggest search engine of them all? The founders seem to think so, given that the indexing of the web under their servers is producing far more relevant results.
- 2 –
How is it possible? Well Google tends to rely on caching results based on popularity not a bad thing really, but Cuil claims that its search engines are based on the organisation of ideas and with that comes a far more efficient means of delivery the organised chaos that the web represents.
According to the companys website they founded Cuil to give users the opportunity to explore the Internet more fully and discover its true potential. Certainly there is no argument that the user interface packs a real punch with its crisp, fresh and inviting look, but is this enough to knock the stuffing out of their rivals?
Like a popularly elected new government, Cuil is likely to have a glowing first six months spidering their way across the global village to entice people (yes, people not users) to feed on their search engine offerings; in fact, they have already thrown down the gauntlet in this Cold War by offering to rank pages based on content instead of the number of clicks. So What? I hear you say. Well, for good number of Australians who are understandably concerned about privacy on the web, it means a big change has arrived as a result of web searching habits.
Unlike its big brother rivals, Cuil will not collect the vast volumes of information about an individuals web surfing habits. Although a great privacy feature for consumers, certainly marketers and online businesses will be pondering the options of Cuil compared to Google metropolis of online marketing offerings, including adwords and adsense.
Among its features, Cuil claims the status of being the biggest internet search engine, having indexed 120 billion web pages.Now given that Cuil focuses on search results according to page content, rather than popularity, then it certainly is a claim worthy of note. But what if you want to see the most popular pages? Does this mean it is back to Google?
Together with the search engines tabbed features, and its ability to search by relevant results, the content-rich web experience will be embraced by those who like to kick mud in the face of Google (yes, you know who you are!), but only time will tell whether these ex-Google employees can truly rival the mother ship.
It will also mean highly qualified search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists will need to start looking at how websites can be more attractive to yet another search engine.
Google’s Adwords is still the yardstick by which other search advertising platforms measure themselves. This isn’t merely an industry observation, but a respectful sentiment that I share now, having learned the ins and outs of Adwords first hand. At ICMediaDirect.com I use this experience to give clients advice that saves them money.
No two advertising campaigns are alike, so naturally each one requires its own strategy. But there are general suggestions that a first time Adwords user should heed. What I have are a few tips aimed at saving the new advertiser money. Just because I learned a few of them the hard way doesn’t mean you should have to: caution and patience are key virtues for an Adwords novice. Incidentally, since Google announced new localized features for Adwords, I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of new users in upcoming months.
Do not assume that the popularity of Adwords stems from a gentle or forgiving platform. You’ve got to watch your ads with the same eye you’d use to watch your chips in a game of Texas Hold’Em. Carelessness in Adwords will cost you as quickly and dearly as it would in poker.
It’s crucial to economize your campaign. Competition from other advertisers within the Adwords space has made it more expensive to use. Bigger advertisers, like an eBay for instance, can be particularly daunting in the way they throw money around. You can’t compete with them, so as you craft a detailed plan, you should manage your budget closely, as every penny counts.
Remember to:
1) Deploy a negative keyword strategy -
I cannot stress this enough. As an advertiser you have almost no control over where your ad goes, but you have the option to keep it from going where it won’t work! The negative keyword function essentially blocks your ads from being shown with search results you feel are not likely to generate business. In other words, it keeps your ads from being exposed to people looking for something else. Clicks from unwanted showings means wasted expense.
2) Stick to a daily budget -
Online advertising offers us unprecedented measurability. We know how many people have seen our ads. But, like in any new endeavor, we should still proceed carefully until we are sure of ourselves. We must apportion daily budgets.
You could lose your shirt on Adwords if you don’t set some limits. Sometimes advertisers are too gung-ho and let expenditures grow with the faith that clicks equals sales growth. There are no guarantees that the advertising will work or that you’re doing it correctly from the get-go. Remember, if clicks are ineffective – you do not get your money back, nor should you. Start slow, learn the ropes, and then prosper.
3) Target for success –
Adwords now lets you target your advertising by nation, state and/or municipality. You may also opt for a stated radius. These features, which are the first steps towards the onset of local search, significantly boost click-through rates. If geography has any relevancy in your business plan, then localized tools are a must.
4) Mind CPC rates –
As part of your budget, your CPC rate is important. Keep it down. I know, I know, these rates being measured in cents don’t look like much, but they quickly add up to real cost, believe me. Adwords has introduced a policy of minimum keyword bids that many feel has made Adwords a more expensive place to advertise. Not so. It’s only made Adwords a slightly more difficult place to advertise because some advertisers subsequently bid too high. Be patient and find your place. It would be better to start too low, and not get enough clicks, than to start too high and burn advertising capital.
5) USD, that’s United States Dollars –
Where is your trade, is it the United States? Set your account up in dollars. If you’re doing business in Europe, set it up in Euros. More than a few people have had rude awakenings by not squaring their denominations with their geographic trade base. The transaction charges are steep.
6) Scrutinize click quality –
There is fear about click fraud in Adwords, legitimate fear. There are, for instance, unethical adversaries who will click your ad to cost you money. (Yet another reason to be nice to everyone you meet!) It is tough to prevent ethical lapses in other people, but if you feel your clicks are suspicious, contact Google immediately and stop running the ads.
The web developer clickbot farms are another issue of concern. These are the kind that are the most threatening, but can be defeated. They are simply websites designed to click your ads in order to steal your advertising money – nothing more and nothing less. If Google values their advertisers, they’ll continue to combat click fraud and, it stands to reason, eliminate it as the current scourge it is. They’ve accomplished bigger feats already and if they don’t, the competition will. Bank on it.
Be cautious and be thrifty when beginning Adwords. It’s a wonderful advertising tool that will not only help your business, but also give you a working, hands-on education, in a field that continues to grow with each passing day, search advertising.
A new breakthrough secret is all you now need in order to get your Google AdWords pay-per-clicks FREE!A gentleman from New York discovered what he calls an “oversight” on the part of 99.9% of all marketers that allows him to get otherwise paid-for advertising at Google as well as all other search engines that allow sponsored ads.And no, nothing about his “secret” is illegal – nor does it require t…
