Daily Roundup for 2008-03-04

Ask.Com Not Planning to Scrap Search: Source – New York Times

Online search site Ask.com is not getting rid of its specialized search technology, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday, saying a blog report to that effect was incorrect. Analysts cited a report in Silicon Alley Insider on Friday as one of several factors that led shares 7 percent lower in Ask.com’s parent, IAC/InterActiveCorp.

Executives Must Realize and Learn the Power of Social Media

Senior marketing executives in several countries agree that the use of social media for corporate, brand and product marketing is not a passing fad, according to research sponsored by TNS media intelligence/Cymfony. In fact, nearly 50% believe it is a vital component of corporate communications that should be monitored at the executive level and allocated significant resources.

Prolific spammer’s felony conviction upheld – Security- msnbc.com

A divided Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the nation’s first felony conviction for illegal spamming on Friday, ruling that Virginia’s anti-spamming law does not violate free-speech rights. Jeremy Jaynes of Raleigh, N.C., considered among the world’s top 10 spammers in 2003, was convicted of massive distribution of junk e-mail and sentenced to nine years in prison.

70% of Online Shoppers Read Multiple Product Reviews

An e-tailing group study commissioned by PowerReviews has further revealed the necessity for customer-generated product reviews on e-commerce sites. It seems the majority of online shoppers want to hear what people like them have to say about the product they’re researching. Almost 70% of customers looked at more than 4 reviews before making a purchase.

Dot-Commitment – washingtonpost.com

By the time he arrived at Virginia Tech in January 2004, Fahad Hassan still was not over his first business failure. He had poured his heart into a computer support business in his final year of high school, but after a promising few months the customers dried up and the expenses ballooned. At Virginia Tech, he didn’t feel invested in classes and even got rejected as a business major. He was so stressed that he took a term off. Then, in the summer after his junior year, inspiration struck.

Hidden Secrets of the Amazon Shopping Cart

Approximately 76 million people have purchased from Amazon.com. Chances are, many of you click this "Add to Shopping Cart" button several times throughout the year. So, why does it always stump audiences of online marketers when I ask them where in the checkout process Amazon has us select a quantity for the item(s) we’re adding-to-cart?

Microsoft Expands Online Services – The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft Corp. today plans to begin new tests of business programs offered as online services, in the latest attempt by the software giant to adapt to the changes being wrought by the Internet on the traditional software business. The Microsoft services come as Google Inc. and other companies are investing in similar services that in coming years could compete with Microsoft’s products. The new offerings, called Microsoft Online Services, are an early salvo in that emerging battle.

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