How many times have you needed to find a store, bank, post office, restaurant, dry cleaners, hair salon, coffee shop, taco stand, etc. that was open NOW? We’ve all been in that position either on holidays, weekends, during road or business trips, and later in the evening when places start to close.

Google’s mobile search has a new feature called Open Now. It allows iPhone and Android users to filter search results by establishments that are presently open. Users can also search by distance and review rating.

Source: Google Mobile Blog

How does Google know your business hours? You tell them–via your Google Places page. If you have a brick and mortar store, or your clients do, be sure this information is up-to-date.

SEO Revolution Blog

In March 2010 we told you about Google Social Search, which gathered blog posts, images, Tweets, and other information your friends/family were posting and placed them at the bottom of search results. You can read the March 2010 article here: Google Launches Social Search.

Previously, if Google’s algorithm deemed information from friends/family useful for your search, it would appear near the bottom of results. Now that information will be mixed into search results, with annotations and notes from the original poster.

Back in March we urged you to get a jump on your competition by building your social circle in Google. If you did that, good job! If not then consider starting now.

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Borders Group, Inc., the second largest bookstore chain, filed for bankruptcy today in New York.

Borders plans to reorganize, but must close 200 of its 642 stores and sell the furniture and merchandise. Sales could start as early as Feb. 19. Furthermore, if negotiations with current landlords fall through, Borders may need to close 75 additional stores.

You can read the full story at Bloomberg.

SEO Revolution Blog

The Do Not Track Me Online Act was introduced in the House of Representatives February 11, 2011 by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA). It prohibits the unauthorized tracking of a consumer’s online behavior. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will regulate, monitor and enforce the bill should it become a law. Noncompliance could result in unfair or deceptive business practices (civil action) by the FTC. And you can bet if you don’t comply that your competitors will be alerting the FTC.

In December 2010, the FTC outlined expectations which included more transparency between companies and how they track consumer information, and the ability for consumers to opt-out. Being proactive, Google, Bing and Microsoft all created opt-out browser add ons.

The message sent by Congresswoman Speier, sponsor of the bill, was “privacy over profit.” (Sorry, I had to pause for a little laugh. I was imagining politicians during campaigns using their voter databases, behavior and location analysis, and other stats to help win an election. Good thing politics is non-profit).

It’s a bill with good intent and the message is: consumers need more awareness and control over how their information is being used online, while companies need to be more forthcoming about their policies and offer consumers a means to opt-out.

Who is Excluded From the Bill?

• Companies/individuals that store information for fewer than 15,000 individuals.
• Companies/individuals that collect information on fewer than 10,000 individuals in a 12-month period.
• Companies/individuals whose primary business is not to “study, monitor, or analyze the behavior of individuals,”

Even if this doesn’t include you, it’s a good idea to provide an easy to understand privacy policy. While this proposed act may not affect your site directly, chances are resources you rely on will be impacted.

Information Covered in the Bill

• Web sites and content accessed.
• Date/hour of online access.
• Geolocation of the computer from which the information was accessed.
• Browser, device or application by which the information was collected.
• IP address, or customer number.
• Name, address, email and or username.
• Telephone or fax number.
• Government-issued IDs (tax id, passport, driver’s license, etc.).
• Debit card numbers and account numbers.
• Sensitive information (health, medical, financial, etc..).

Comments About the Bill?

Tell us what you think of this proposed law. Is it a long-time coming, or does it unfairly target online marketing?

References:

“U.S. Internet Users Ready to Limit Online Tracking for Ads.” Gallup.Com – Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. USA Today/Gallup, 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2011. http: //www.gallup.com/poll/145337/internet-users-ready-limit-online-tracking-ads.aspx

Speier, Congresswoman Jackie. “Do Not Track Me Online Act.” Do Not Track Me Online Act. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, 9 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2011. http: //speier.house.gov/uploads/Do%20Not%20Track%20Me%20Online%20Act.pdf

SEO Revolution Blog

Early Internet entrepreneurs were a breed of their own–still are. I’m sure back then you had conversations with people who didn’t understand the Internet and who advised you to get a “real job.” They clearly didn’t see it, but you did—that the Internet was revolutionary.

Today, the Internet job sector is responsible for employing one million people and that doesn’t include businesses that use the Internet to sell goods and services to a global market.

Mobile Growth

The next explosion of growth is coming from the wireless sector, which is estimated to grow in double digits through 2014. Future growth will be helped by the introduction of IPv6, which opens up a trillion new Internet addresses and allows more devices to connect.

America Far From World Leader in Wireless Infrastructure

The problem is that the infrastructure in America isn’t up to speed. It’s not just rural spaces that remain broadbandless. Just prior to the Great Recession, many towns experienced a building boom which broadband did not keep pace with. According to Austan Goolsbee, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, America isn’t even among the top five countries when it comes to high speed Internet availability.

The National Wireless Initiative

On February 10, 2011 at Marquette University in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, President Obama announced his solution: The National Wireless Initiative. Goolsbee went into more detail on the White House Blog, stating that the White House wants to “leapfrog 3G” and make 4G available nationwide. He likened this to the transcontinental railroad, electrifying America, and creating interstate highways in terms of what this would do for Americans. (I hope Facebook is prepared for all the new members).

World Domination, Jobs and Bragging Rights

The goals of the initiative are clear: make America leaders in the 4G space, make high speed Internet available to 98% of all Americans, create jobs, promote innovation, and lower the deficit by billion.

The initiative is a three-part plan:

1. The White House plans to open up and auction off 500 MHz of air wave space.
2. Major investment incentives will be offered to encourage businesses to build out these networks on their own.
3. Seed monies will be provided to fund scientists who can make these networks faster and more secure.

One UP’ed

Why did the President choose Marquette to give this speech?
In four days, with only six people, and without raising tuition, the entire campus was put on a wireless network. Go Yoppers!

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