Google

<tl;dr> Google Adwords is a fantastic tool for the S of the SMEs and the giants of paid search advertising, but medium-sized companies are increasingly squeezed of precious access to account management and inside info. </tl;dr>

I can only vaguely remember a world without Google. Being in my late thirties, my career and I grew up in an age where everything digital was evolving. I saw and took part in the birth of social media and I incubated, in my own way, the launch (and occasional failure) of early ‘dotcoms’.

There has been a been a lot of chatter on various social networks, okay on Twitter, that Google are pulling of out of the Social Networking business, and closing Google+.

We love Google+ and in our social business workshops we talk about the benefits, especially the Google Authorships combined with Google+'s apparent effect on search and SEO.

Following the announcement from Google that it is winding down the Wildfire social marketing platform that it bought for $250m less than two years ago, there’s going to be some customers with some very justifiable concerns.

Google's recent update to the rules on keywords, links and anchor text in press releases was bad news for some PR and SEO agencies.

The era of low-quality bookmark site links, cleverly embedded links in widgets and mass posting forum comments with optimised links are dead.

Founded in 2000 by the Chinese search scientist and entrepreneur Robin Li, Baidu is now China’s most popular search engine, taking a dominant ~80% share of the overall market of mainland China.

Just like Google, high rankings on Baidu is key to tapping the Chinese market. Below we investigate the differences between Baidu and Google, Here's what you need to know and 3 simple steps to improve your Chinese SEO.

Sharing and declaring are the foundation of social media, but businesses are still unable to decide on one issue: is there such a thing as the ideal post?

What makes consumers like a post? What makes them share? Answering these questions is tough, but can lead to an increase in awareness and stronger customer relationships.

The Chinwag Psych event is just around the corner. You can still get your ticket for May 9 if you are interested in learning about how psychology, machine learning and neuroscience might be helpful to your business.

If you are coming along, you can expect some great presentations from the line up of speakers who will be sharing their knowledge. So, what are you going to talk about in the coffee breaks?

We’ve been gathering a few news articles and further reading for you each week so that you will be right up to date about the topics involved. Consider it a conversational cheat sheet and a few interesting articles you might want to consider if you are not likely to be combing the web while you’re working on other things.

Kate Jackson is Founder of TableCrowd, a social dining network. We think she lives on a Lear Jet, circling the globe like the twitchy billionaire in Contact. 

Monday. Joined Chinwag’s Digital Mission direct from San Francisco. Booked in fundraising and partnership meetings around the hectic DM and Social Media Week schedule. Met my fellow travellers over informal drinks in Manhattan.

Tuesday. Master class from attorneys at Venable LLP on how foreign companies can operate/raise money in the US. Attended first SMW event: roundtable discussion from published social media authors where, bang on trend, there were prizes for the most prolific event tweeters!

When it comes to popularity with Social Media Platforms it may be a case of slow and steady wins the race. We all know Facebook was the speedster Hare but who would have thought that Google+ is our plucky little turtle?

Globalwebindex latest research surfaces results that might raise a few eyebrows amongst social media marketers.