Google AdWords introduces click-to-call ads
In 2010, Google sent out notification to its AdWords advertisers that “your location-specific business phone number will display alongside your destination url in ads that appear on high-end mobile devices. Users will be able to click-to-call your business just as easily as they click to visit your website. You’ll be charged for clicks to call, same as you are for clicks to visit your website.”
What Google was saying, simply, was that it would allow phone numbers to display in ads and would charge advertisers when calls were initiated accordingly.
As we described it at the time, this was effectively a “pay-per-phone call” but the cost per call is the same as a click.
Read all about it in Google To Introduce Click-to-Call (Billing) in Ads on Mobile Devices
Google would later introduce click-to-call phone numbers Jan. 28 on the Inside Adwords blog.
Also on this day
Google fixes user and permissions issue with Search Console
2022: The problem started in Google Search Console’s user interface in November 2021, when “Full Users” saw their status as “Delegated Owners” within the settings ownership verification section.
Microsoft releases IndexNow plugin for WordPress
2022: The WordPress IndexNow plugin enabled automated submission of URLs from WordPress sites to multiple search engines without the need to register and verify your site with them.
Best Buy to sell search ads under its own in-house media company
2022: Best Buy Ads started offering paid search ads and sponsored product listings on Best Buy’s website, among other ad offerings.
The AdWords 2x budget change: How’s it going?
2018: Search marketers weighed in on their experiences since the change took effect. Many had experienced no issues. But for others, the change wasn’t good.
Google says Assistant now on more than 400 million devices
2018: And when Google said “devices,” that included Android smartphones, tablets, TVs, headphones and Google Home smart speakers.
Search in Pics: Google’s floppy sofa, rusty Android head & dancers
2018: The latest images culled from the web, showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have and more.
Bing gets in shape with search updates for exercise & healthy recipe-related queries
2017: Bing started delivering carousel-styled search results with images that link to a wide variety of exercise options on searches for [workouts], [exercises], [yoga] and [Pilates].
Bing Now Powers AOL Search: What Advertisers Need To Know
2016: Here’s what the move meant for those managing Bing Ads campaigns.
GM Turning Its Cars Into Rolling (Local) Search Engines
2015: GM announced a range of new OnStar 4G LTE services, including “AtYourService,” featuring partners like Dunkin’ Donuts and Priceline.com.
The Strange Explanation Of Why Windows Phone Users Lost Access To Google Maps
2013: Many people suddenly noticed a long-standing redirection that Google had in place for those not using Android or iOS devices.
Google Expands Test Of AdWords That Collect Email Addresses
2012: Google confirmed it had expanded the trial of the lead generation format to additional advertisers.
Google Announces “Megasitelinks,” Image Search Improvements & Better Byline Dates
2012: Google revealed its latest overview of 30 search tweaks that happened in December 2011
Report: Social Media Spending Threatens To Overtake Paid Search Among SMBs
2012: The SMB-specific component of social media spending was roughly $1.14 billion
Trada Secures Additional $9M In Funding From Google Ventures & Foundry Group
2012: This additional seed of Series D financing brought the total money raised for Trada, the crowdsourced PPC marketplace, to $17 million.
Google Can’t Seem to Quit China
2011: Despite a principled stand against censorship and the subsequent revelation that Chinese government surrogates were behind Gmail hacking, the company was contemplating a “return” to the Chinese market.
Obamacare AdWords: Partisan Outrage Or Public Education?
2011: An AdWords ad appearing for the query “obamacare” led to a landing page on the official government site HealthCare.gov.
Google Buzz Faces New Lawsuit In Canada
2011: Google was again sued over privacy issues related to the launch of Google Buzz.
Data: StumbleUpon Beats Facebook As Top Social Referrer
2011: StumbleUpon had a 43% share of social media referrals, while Facebook has 38%, according to StatCounter.
Ballmer At CES 2011: “Whatever Device You Use, Windows Will Be There”
2011: Live blogging Ballmer’s talk at CES in Las Vegas. (Bing was only mentioned in passing, briefly as part of Windows Phone 7.)
Facebook Funding Subject Of SEC Review: Report
2011: The SEC was in the early stages of an inquiry over rules concerning the dividing line between public and private companies.
Google Teases “Honeycomb” Android 3.0 Tablet OS At CES
2011: “Built entirely for tablet,” this was a different UI than previous versions of Android.
Internet-To-TV Players Compared: Roku, Apple TV, Boxee & Google TV
2011: An at-a-glance look at how Roku, Apple TV, Boxee Box and Google TV measured up against each other.
As AdWords Ads Get Images, What’s Deemed Family Safe?
2010: Google said: “Images in ads are only classified as non-family safe when they are found to contain adult content.”
With Mobile Ad Networks Being Snapped Up By Google And Apple Will Yahoo Or Microsoft Be The Next To Buy?
2010: The mobile market was real – and red hot.
Islam Is … Blocked By ‘Bug’ In Google Suggest
2010: Google said it was working to fix a bug in Google Suggest that was blocking search suggestions related to Islam.
Bellevue Building With Bing Lights
2010: The lights were spread across several stories and in green. It spelled out the name of Microsoft’s search engine, Bing.
Liveblogging The Google Nexus One Phone Launch
2010: The Nexus One was a widely expected Google Phone that Google apparently closely developed with handset maker HTC, running the Android mobile operating system.
Top Googlers Donate $150,000 To Obama’s Inauguration
2009: Several of Google’s top executives (including CEO Eric Schmidt and co-founder Larry Page) donated significant amounts toward Obama’s inauguration galas, dinners and receptions.
Google & Baidu Fail China’s Pornography Test, May Lead To Penalties
2009: Both Google and Baidu have failed to take “efficient” actions to remove content from their results after being notified of issues.
Marissa Mayer Denies Rumor She’s Leaving Google, Comments On Search Being “90% Done”
2009: Mayer said that “while search is 90 per cent solved, the last 10 per cent will take decades to complete.” Mayer didn’t leave Google until 2012, to become Yahoo’s CEO.
Will Google Book Search Help Or Hurt Libraries And Book Sales?
2009: Some scholars were worried that Google users would be more likely to search for narrow information than to read at length. What a crazy idea. … Oh wait.
Google Docs Releases New Presentation Features
2008: Including the ability to embed presentations into a page of any site.
Marketers Answer, “Would You Hire Matt Cutts” Away From Google?
2007: Not surprisingly, they all would have loved to hire Cutts.
Google Hires NBC Video Executive, Michael Steib
2007: He joined Google to help work with advertisers to create effective, measurable video advertising.
New Features Added To Google’s Enterprise Search Appliance
2007: Clustering of the results, auto-generate a sitemap for Google.com’s crawler and more.
Yahoo Local Adds Quick Add / Edit Business Listing Feature
2007: Yahoo Local let you add your business within about 24 hours.
From Search Marketing Expo (SMX)
How to automate your ad copy without sacrificing control
New Year, New Look For Search Engine Land’s SMX Search Marketing Conference
Past contributions from Search Engine Land’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
These columns are a snapshot in time and have not been updated since publishing, unless noted. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.
2017: Chrome’s DevTools for SEO: 10 ways to use these browser features for your SEO audits by Aleyda Solis
2017: Three well-meaning paid search optimizations that might kill performance by Andy Taylor
2017: Are your paid search ads making the right impression? by Jacob Baadsgaard
2016: What Is Your SEO Learning Program? by Eric Enge
2016: Test Your Knowledge Of SEO by Eric Enge
2016: Making the Most Of Google Analytics Audiences Within Your Search Campaigns by Laura Collins
2016: 9 Examples Of Link-Worthy Resources For E-Commerce Sites by Julie Joyce
2015: So, The CTO Hates Your SEO Project… by Eric Enge
2015: Local SEO In 2015 – Look At The Big Picture by Greg Gifford
2015: How Should SMBs Buy Local Search Advertising: Automated Services Vs. Sales Reps? by Wesley Young
2012: Setting Campaign Budgets: Maximizing ROI While Controlling The Risk by Siddharth Shah
2012: What Comes Before The Landing Page – The Crucial Role Of Psychology-Driven SEO by Trond Lyngbø
2011: 3 New Years Resolutions For In-House Search Engine Marketers by Kelly Gillease
2011: 4 New Years Resolutions For Conversion Optimization In 2011 by Sandra Niehaus
2011: Putting Your Brand On A Diet by Lori Weiman
2011: Two New Mobile SEO Tips For 2011 by Bryson Meunier
2010: Link Building Trends For 2010 by Debra Mastaler
2010: How To Use Social Deal Sites To Promote Sales by Greg Finn
2010: Look To Europe For Mobile SEM Lessons by Bas van den Beld
2009: Choose Your CMS With Care by Eric Enge
2009: What Could Save The Yellow Pages? 10 Ideas by Chris Silver Smith
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