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Google

Tool Helps Retailers Find New Keywords

Google’s Search-based Keyword Tool—a way for online retailers to identify relevant, frequently searched-for terms outside of Google’s paid AdWords program—is now in beta.

The tool scans pages for words that match up with terms that have been searched for in the past year on all of Google’s search properties (e.g., Google.com, Google.co.uk), writes Internet Retailer.

Retailers can compare the...
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‘Google Holiday Shopping’ Leverages Top Product Searches

Google has launched Google Holiday Shopping, which aggregates top product searches for certain categories, MarketingVOX writes.

“To find the season’s most wanted gifts, Santa’s elves mined millions of recent Google Product Search queries to put together some of the most popular products people are searching for,” the site reads. Categories include Video Games & Toys, Cold Weather and Specialty...
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Study: Non-Branded Web Searches Less Likely to Convert

If a consumer conducts an internet search for a non-branded terms - a general word to describe a product or product category - a purchase is unlikely to result during that online session, according to a Compete study commissioned by Google.

In fact, just 30% of purchases originating from non-branded searches resulted in a purchase within the same session, writes Internet Retailer.

Most of the...
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Wal-Mart Shuts Down Support for DRM Music Files

Customers who bought DRM-restricted WMA (Windows Media Audio) music files from Wal-Mart’s online music store before Feb. ‘08 have to burn them onto a CD or risk losing them forever, the company announced via email (published on BoingBoing).

Wal-Mart is shutting down the servers that control reauthorization of purchased music files. This means that if users try to reload those music files onto a...
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Google Chrome Impacts Retail, Too

The introduction of Google Chrome last week - and its rapid-fire adoption - will certainly have an impact on website publishers and marketers, but it will also affect online retailers.

If an e-commerce site is incompatible with Chrome, users (i.e., prospective customers) will be discouraged from shopping on that site - an incident comparable to a retailer’s shutting the door in a customer’s face...
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First Android Phone Here by Year’s End

The first Google-powered phone may hit shelves as early as October and as late as the end of the year—likely in time for the holiday season.

Google’s buzzed-about Android—not a phone but a smartphone platform that operates on a High Tech Computer Corp (HTC) handset—will be available through wireless carrier T-Mobile.

Like other mobile phone manufacturers, HTC imitated iPhone’s modish touchscreen...
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PayPal, Google Checkout Will Report Merchants to IRS

Starting from 2011, online payment processors (e.g., PayPal, Google Checkout) will have to report web merchants’ sales to the Internal Revenue Service, reports Internet Retailer.

The provision is part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 signed last week by President Bush and is expected to raise $9.8 billion in business tax revenue over 10 years.
Payment processors (i.e., any...
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Counterfeit-Sales Ruling Goes eBay’s Way

A federal judge ruled that eBay is not responsible for identifying counterfeit goods sold on its auction site, writes CNET news.

The lawsuit was brought by Tiffany & Co. which saideBay is responsible for policing its listings for fakes.

However, the court disagreed: “It is the trademark owner’s burden to police its mark,” wrote US District Judge Richard Sullivan.

The ruling will also apply...
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