Often times I think it is important to educate around the power of blogs in search engine ranking. It all comes back to 3 of the most important pillars of any search algorithm (google, bing, yahoo, etc.) which are:
1. Relevancy (how well does the content address the search query)
2. Frequency of content update (what is more frequently and easily updated than a blog)
3. Recent update of new content (recency, again blogs dominate)
Blogs are THE BEST vehicle on the web to address these, which is why no search engine that wants to keep market share would stop valuing and ranking blogs. Google knows this more than anyone, which is why they own the majority of the search market because of their “Blended Search” algorithm. Here is collateral to support this Compendium philosophy:
Google’s Own Press Release from this week: 3/16/10: “Google's vision for universal search is to ultimately search across all its content sources, compare and rank all the information in real time, and deliver a single, integrated set of search results that offers users precisely what they are looking for.
Beginning today, the company will incorporate information from a variety of previously separate sources – including videos, images, news, maps, books, and websites – into a single set of results. At first, universal search results may be subtle. Over time users will recognize additional types of content integrated into their search results as the company advances toward delivering a truly comprehensive search experience.” Doesn’t sound like they are moving towards removing blogs, but rather increasing importance of other mediums (including blogs)
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/universalsearch_20070516.html From PracticalEcommerce.com just this week:Gone are the days when a search is performed and only a list of pertinent websites appears in the search engine results page.
Instead, what can be found now is a blend of websites, videos, images, social media profiles, blogs, news stories, press releases, podcasts and maps. With blended search, all findings— official company websites and YouTube videos alike— are joined together on the search engine results page. By integrating this blend of media into your company’s site and marketing plan you can obtain search success and improve customer satisfaction, ultimately boosting your company’s overall sales. Below are four ways that your company can get started to ensure successful search marketing results. SEE WAY #1 at this link:
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1104-Blended-Search-Four-Ways-to-Optimize-Content-for-Better-Search-Rankings
From the most recent issue of Wired Magazine: Pages 97 – 116 (Cover Article): “Inside the Box: Inside Google Search” See Key Advances, #6: Universal (or blended) Search: This is the way the algorithm is moving. To include more video, new mediums, pictures, etc. which is all much more prolific and easy to find and organize on blogs.
Fortune Magazine: March issue; page 64 about the changes in the entire publishing world: Quote: “
The only new media life form that has managed to live off those junk-ad rates (PPC) is the blog, a medium that tends to favor breadth over depth and cheap opinion over expensive original reporting.” Further proof that more satisfied searchers come from blog results, which is why search engines are only moving toward better blog ranking, not removing blog ranking.
Our CEO, Chris Baggott (Co-Founder of Exacttarget.com and 21st 2009 Most Influential Marketer) addressing this very question:Google isn't ranking us because we are a blog. It's ranking us because our pages are designed specifically for the algorithm.
Google likes specific titles, right? Google is moving towards more specific pages and content frequency and recency.
Google makes about 12 changes to it's algorithm every month. Who better to stay on top of them than a large SaaS. We have a strategic sprint every week and a team dedicated to nothing but keeping our software up with the best practices as Google dictates. Recent changes include the canonical tag, the 301 redirect, (all changes we were able to respond to immediately) Google doesn't try to hide it's changes. it's pretty transparent about what it wants you to do. The biggest recent changes include real time search and personalization. Both things that make us even more attractive right? Google is responding to Twitter and Bing and realizing that fresh content is a very serious consideration in search.
Personalization is even more important. Retailers are now REQUIRED to have a ton more content. You have the challenge of building content that is relevant to everyone. What used to be a mass marketing business. (homepage and massive linking) is now a highly fragmented targeted marketing game.
I hope this helps understand why companies are turning to services and platforms like Compendium to see more ROI on their search marketing strategies.
technological advancement has made staying right here work perfectly for me. 
We currently have a client, who also happens to be a Hoosier too, that is up for a Hoosier Hullabaloo award this year - Breena Fain - the admin for 
Megan Glover (Compendium Director of Marketing) and I recently attended Etail in Palm Springs. One company, 
As you can see by the graph to the right marketers are trying to figure out how to integrate social media and e-mail marketing. E-mail marketers are looking for ways to increase lists and find some way to tie the strategy back to acquisition.
This week I (along with Mikey) have been working through conceptualizing Compendium's Web-to-Post functionality. Compendium is a blogging platform that is optimized for social media and search. It's a very flexible platform and we can extend it's functionality to allow it to become a robust platform for Marketers.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that as much as 80% of all web activity begins with online search.Also, compared to Audio/video instant messaging, text messaging and social networking, email and search continue to dominate online web interactions.
This is the time of year when every internal office contest is based around basketball and the NCAA Tournament. Things are no different here at Compendium! 
