The Steeping Pot

In search marketing, we always wonder how our industry will evolve in the future.  The idea of search going away is inconceivable to us today, but will it always be?  I was reading this article in the NY Times this morning, and it was all about automated computer systems, and voice recognition and artificial intelligence.  Maybe this is how search will evolve.  People will simply be able to have a conversation with their computers to find what they're looking for, and browsing will become obsolete.  The article talks about the Siri technology (which Apple purchased in April), and how you can easily find and book a restaurant reservation simply by saying you're looking for something romantic at 8 within walking distance. 

Now, imagine what the hotel industry could do with this.  Being able to plan an entire vacation simply by having a conversation with a computer, stating that you want to go someplace tropical in June for 5 nights that's quiet, has golf for your husband, activities for the kids, and a swim up pool bar that serves frozen margaritas with umbrellas in them for you, and a budget of about $3,000.  The computer may speak back to you and ask if the kids need their own room, or if you all want to share a suite.  Or it might talk to you about language preferences.  All of it being more of a conversation than typing in keywords or marking radio buttons with your preferences. 

Now imagine if everything you ever needed to search for was that easy?  How would that change our industry?  How would advertising come into play when the world turns to computer avatars and voice recognition technologies?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/science/25voice.html

Is it more important to be true to your inner geek, or spend wisely?  With all the buzz going around about the new iPhone rumored to release this summer, I find myself in a dilemma.  I've been good with buying a new cell phone every 2 years.  This method has worked for me in the sense that it both fulfilled my geeky needs, but also didn't kill my bank account.  There was only 1 year that I broke my pattern, and that was when the first iPhone came out.  I had just bought the Nokia Communicator 3 months prior to the iPhone announcement.  At first I avoided hearing anything about the iPhone, but as soon as I saw a demo online, I was done.  Something like that, I had to be an early adopter.  It's just in my blood. 

So now, with all that the 4th generation iPhone is rumored to be, I find myself stuck.  I bought the iPhone 3Gs last summer, and now a new phone could be coming out a year earlier than I wanted it to.  I won't be eligible for any subsidized discounts like I was for the 3Gs, so I might have to drop $500+ to get the new phone.  I guess we'll see this summer.

So I've been avoiding my blog the last couple weeks.  Partly because I've been super busy secretly getting a new job, and planning my exit strategy to get out of the Northeast.  Since everything is publicly in the works now, I can write again.  I did say partly though.  My other reason for avoiding my blog is because all I can think about when it comes to geeking out is how pointless I think the iPad is.  So many people are in love with it, and I just feel like I'll go on a complete rant about how useless it is.  The only legitimate purpose I can see for it is as a really cool replacement for the Kindle.  Outside of that, it won't be replacing any of my netbooks anytime soon.  That's right, I have netbooks.

I've met a lot of new people in the last couple weeks, and many have told me "I bet you're on the waiting list for the iPad".  At first I thought this was funny because my geek flag flies high even if I just met you, but then it makes me wonder why people can't tell I'm a PC.  Is it because I'm obsessed with my iPhone and refuse to even look at the NexusOne or any of the Droid phones?  I have an odd sense of loyalty to the iPhone because it truly was a mind blowing technology for me 3 years ago, and I feel like it's not done impressing me yet.  I just can't wait to get rid of AT&T.  The final stage of happiness with the iPhone will be when I can use it with Verizon.  I hear it's coming soon :-).

Ok, so I'm totally geeking out over this new site Trada.  It's just such a great idea, and so simple.  There are probably thousands of search marketers out there wishing they would have thought of this.  Here's how it works according to their site:

Advertisers create a new Paid Search campaign in Trada

Advertisers create a new campaign with some basic information about the company and the product/service that is being sold, and establish the parameters for the campaign like daily budget, maximum cost per click, the ad networks to advertise on, target cost per conversion, etc.

PPC Experts in the Trada Marketplace join the campaign

PPC Experts are alerted to the new campaign and decide if they’d like to work on it. If they join the campaign, they begin generating ad groups, keywords and ads.

Ads begin running on the Google, Yahoo and Bing ad networks

Trada gathers the ad groups, keywords and ads created by PPC Experts for the campaign and sends them to the Google/Yahoo/Bing accounts we’ve created for the campaign, where it begins running. After the campaign launches the Advertiser has the ability to review all of these keywords and ads to make sure they accurately represent the business and objectives.

Clicks and conversions are generated; PPC Experts earn money

If PPC Experts generate clicks or conversions for less than the stated click or conversion price, they keep the difference between what the Advertiser was willing to pay for the click/conversion and what it actually cost to generate it.

According to the article on Mashable, Trada has been privately running in beta since January 2009.  Needless to say, I've signed up as a PPC Expert.  Sign-up process is easy so far - provide your info and Linkedin URL, then take a short search quiz.  They evaluate the application and then let you know in a few days if you're in.  The best part about this is there's no commitment.  You can pick and choose if you want to work on the campaign.  As an advanced SEM - this is what I've been waiting for.  It's not even about earning some extra cash for me.  It's about being able to work on random unique opportunities that you might not get in your current position.  This is the perfect way for an SEM to stay well rounded.  I really hope this takes off - it's an awesome idea, but will only be as good as the marketplace.  Adoption is key for this one.

So apparently it's rumored that Apple is going to release a multitasking functionality for the iPhone in the 4.0 firmware update. 

Now before I get into anything, I have to say I am an uber fan of the iPhone - but I've never been a Mac.  I'm a PC that loves her iPhone.  So as much as I continually talk about how great my iPhone is, I haven't drank enough Apple kool-aid to remotely be interested in the iPad.

Ok, so now that's out of the way let's get back to the iPhone.  As much as I love the iPhone, I am very aware of its shortcomings - Multitasking being a major one.  There are so many times when you're in an app, and you get an email, text, or call, that needs your immediate attention.  Once you're done, and what to go back to what you're doing before, you can't. 

Battery life is a major sticking point with me as well.  I end up sacrificing functionality to conserve battery life, which works out quite well, but makes the phone significantly less fun.  With continual use throughout the day, I end up at around 30% battery life by 11 pm without any fun features turned on.  It's like that commercial where the guy gives the little girl a bike and says she can only ride it in the 2'x3' space outlined around the bike.  Don't give me something cool and then make it impossible for me to enjoy it!