There are actually several dimensions to image optimization that involves better placement in search results, optimization for user experience and in some cases, optimization for easier [...]]]> Images as an asset for organic search results and search engine optimization are often overlooked.  Images can drive traffic through image search as well as inclusion in universal search results.

There are actually several dimensions to image optimization that involves better placement in search results, optimization for user experience and in some cases, optimization for easier sharing of images on the social web.

For image SEO, it can be helpful to think of optimizing images like optimizing a tiny webpage within your page. Things like url structure, anchor text and descriptive tagging are factors for optimizing images for search engines, just like regular webpages.

Here are a few tips for optimizing your images to improve their performance on the page and in search.

1. Find the right images

Finding the right kind of image is incredibly important. Great images can add another dimension to an article or page that can encourage people to share the page and create some great backlinks. Research shows that while text is still the first thing seen on the page, the image is what sells the page.

Here are some of the best places to actually find images:

    * Flickr – Probably the de facto service for finding free images. They have a really useful creative commons search as well. Skellie has an excellent article on how to find Flickr images.
    * stock.xchng – Weird name, but a ton of royalty-free stock images.
    * iStockPhoto – Large selection of stock photos that you can buy.

You can also use Google Images to find images for your site, as long as you search with the proper licensing. (They allow you to search Creative Commons and other public licenses.) But you have to be very careful when using images, as if you don’t have the permission to reuse it, companies and sites can take legal action against you.

The general rule of thumb is this: if the image isn’t Creative Common licensed or you didn’t buy or create it, don’t post it.

2. Use the keyword(s) in the file name

Just like keywords in post urls are important for pages, the same is true for images. Using keyword-rich words in your image filename is important for helping search engines determine relevancy. For example, the image above was originally named “iStock_000004221245XSmall.jpg” which doesn’t add much information about this web page. It has been renamed to “image-optimization.jpg”. Of course, most images that are not simply decorative like the one above are literal and connected to the content of the page such as a photo of a product.  If the above image were used in an article about eye color, then the file name should reflect that.

Google suggests that you should place your images in one folder on your site, mydomain.com/images versus placing them in random folders throughout the site. Another suggestion from Google related to file names or URLs of images is to make sure you use common image filetypes such as JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP.

3. Create descriptive alt text

Alt text or tags are another way that search engines help determine what your image is about. Unlike traditional web content, search engines can’t determine the text content of an image. (Search spiders are pretty smart, but as far as I know they haven’t developed eyes yet.) As a result, search engines need to rely on captions around the image, alt text, file names and other surrounding text. Adding descriptive text in the alt tag helps the search engines determine what the content of the image is.

If an image is used as navigation, ie as a link to another page, be sure to use alt text that is meaningful to the content of the page being linked to.

4. The right anchor text

Anchor text is another important factor in image SEO. If you decide to link to images with text, your anchor text can play a role in how your image is ranked for keywords. Use descriptive anchor text that describes the image.  For example, linking to an image using a generic term like “image” or “photo” or a file name that doesn’t use keywords doesn’t give search engines much meaningful information on what the image is about. Linking to an image with keywords is helpful to search engines as well as people visiting your site.

5. Make sure the image matches the content

The content surrounding the image should be related to all of the things that you’ve optimized thus far: anchor tags, image url, alt tags. When these things align, it helps search engines confirm that you’re not spamming and that the image is of higher quality and relevant.

6. Don’t stuff

This goes for all kinds of SEO, but we’ll say it again just for clarity: don’t keyword stuff when filling out things like image alt text. Your alt text, captions and file names should be short and descriptive, not a long list of keywords. Remember to optimize images for your website visitors. Image SEO is as much about user experience as it is about achieving better search engine rankings.

Source : toprankblog.com

We say inching with a lot of caution really because at the rate at which it is growing, Bing may take up to a [...]]]> While Google is forever innovating to be ahead of competition, Microsoft’s search engine Bing is inching its way to earn parity with Google in the search engine stakes.

We say inching with a lot of caution really because at the rate at which it is growing, Bing may take up to a few decades to overpower Google and win the Web search war.

Yet, there is hope for Microsoft. Bing is now officially in control of 11.5 per cent of the search engine market. Google is not unduly worried because Bing is gaining at the expense of Yahoo! Search. At the same time, Google increased its market share by one-tenth of a per cent to 65.5 per cent.

In any case, the Web search war in the next five years is going to be between Google and Bing, with Yahoo! opting out after a record deal with Microsoft to let Bing power all the searches on Yahoo!, too.

Says eWeek : ”While Yahoo!’s search is greater than Bing’s, it is clear Bing will be propping up Yahoo!’s search going forward.

The combined companies’ market share, which is now 28.3 per cent to Google’s 65.5 per cent, will largely be viewed as owned by Microsoft.”

Chris Hughes is called ”the kid who made Barack Obama President of the United States”. By developing the most robust set of virtual platforms ever used in a political campaign, he enabled millions of Obama supporters to connect with each other in the run- up to the US presidential elections in 2008.

But that’s not the only impressive part of the bio- data of this 26- yearold. Together with his Harvard roommates Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz, Hughes co- founded Facebook, and the extent of the site’s popularity was evident from the houseful turnout at his session on ‘The Power of Social Networking’.

Hughes took the audience through his Facebook story and the successful Obama campaign in a session that began with its moderator, India Today Group Digital chief operating officer Kalli Purie, introducing him with these words: ”Do not be fooled by his innocence. He has already done too much in life.”

‘We’re experiencing an information revolution,” Hughes declared.”This is the kind of revolution that comes every few years. It’s like the television and radio revolution that changed our lives in the 19th Century. Now, whoever has access to communication technologies has the ability to create information.”

 Source: Yahoo News

The survey, conducted by international employment firm Kelly Services in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, also [...]]]> SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – It may have hammered many a company’s balance sheet, but the global financial crisis has made more than two out of five employees feel totally committed to their employer, a global survey showed.

The survey, conducted by international employment firm Kelly Services in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, also found companies with positive management, strong morale and active communications succeeded in making their workforce more engaged despite the uncertainty caused by falling profits and layoffs.

Respondents cited “more interesting or challenging work” as the main reason that would make them more engaged in their job, ahead of higher salaries and more benefits, the survey showed.

“Many organisations have been through an extremely difficult period but some have managed the challenges in a positive way and have emerged with a new level of trust among the workforce,” Kelly Services CEO George Corona said in a statement.

The annual Kelly Global Workforce Index polled about 134,000 people in 29 countries from October to January.

It found 43 percent of employees said they felt “totally committed” to their current employers and 26 percent felt “somewhat committed”.

A total of 27 percent, or more than a quarter, of respondents worldwide said the economic recession made them feel more loyal to their employer, while only 10 percent felt less loyal and 63 percent said it has made no difference.

Slightly more Generation “Y” workers, or those aged between 18 and 29 years, said the downturn had made them more loyal than Generation “X” employees — 28 percent compared to 26 percent.

The survey also showed the most “engaged” employees were in North America, where 52 percent say they are totally committed to their job, compared with 47 percent in Asia Pacific and 36 percent in Europe.

When considering whether to remain in or quit their job, younger workers have a much greater interest in the possibility of career advancement. Older workers predominantly focus on the quality of management, according to the poll.

The survey also found all generations are watching closely how organisations manage their corporate reputation, a key factor on deciding whether to stay or leave.

“Attracting employees and keeping them productively engaged is constantly among the most challenging tasks for employers,” Corona said.

“A multi-generational strategy is vital to attracting not only the best talent, but also to fostering a climate that encourages creativity and learning for all workers.”

For more details, click http://kellyservices.com

If you’re looking to be first in line to pre-order Apple’s new iPad, then set your alarm, because Steve Jobs’s latest creation is available for pre-order in the U.S. early on Friday, March 12: 5:30 [...]]]> Coming April 3.

Starting March 12, pre-order from the Apple Online Store or reserve for pickup at an Apple Retail Store.

If you’re looking to be first in line to pre-order Apple’s new iPad, then set your alarm, because Steve Jobs’s latest creation is available for pre-order in the U.S. early on Friday, March 12: 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time or 8:30 a.m. for those of us on the East coast.

While details are still scarce, TidBits managed to snag the elusive details from Apple about the timing of the pre-order. As of Friday morning, you’ll be able to log on to Apple online store and place your order for the device, which goes on sale on April 3—assuming the company’s site manages to withstand the possible onslaught of excited customers. Pre-ordering allows you to have an iPad delivered to your door or reserve one for pick up at your local Apple Store location on launch day.

Only the Wi-Fi model will be available for pre-order—the 3G-equipped version won’t be available until late April. The Wi-FI models run $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB. International customers will also have to wait until later in April to order their iPads.

Source : new.yahoo.com

It means people can stop carrying around a bunch of keys, and instead use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office.

The technology simply [...]]]> London, Mar 7 (ANI): Computer giant Apple is set to revolutionize the traditional door key with introduction of a hi-tech alternative nicknamed the ‘iKey’.

It means people can stop carrying around a bunch of keys, and instead use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office.

The technology simply requires the users to enter a pin code and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it.

Apparently, a newly published patent application, filed with the US Patent Office, contains the details of the new technology.

It is speculated that the next model of the iPhone will contain this feature.

The application states: “The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone. More