Twopcharts reported on Wednesday that Twitter reached 500 million users and it's expected to meet 600 million within the year based on its current numbers and growth rates. While users have frequently complained about the recent activity of spambots on the website, it's likely that 500 million mark is almost entirely actual users. For social media marketing campaigns, Twitter represents ... [more]

On its Inside Search blog, Google recently announced the inclusion of flight information on mobile SERPs. Users can enter a specific flight path, and available tickets on the web will appear directly on the SERP just above the organic results. This change might inspire marketers in the travel industry to redouble their SEO efforts as it pushes many page one results below the fold. ... [more]

A report from Maxifier found that marketing budgets are increasingly focused on developing brand awareness, rather than directly influencing consumers to make purchases. In general, the web and the growth of new media marketing channels have allowed companies to develop long-term strategies that focus on improving brand awareness and visibility, but the report highlights that marketers ... [more]

A report from American Express Business Insights found that 18- to 34-year-old Americans are spending aggressively on the web, and luxury goods are among their most frequently purchased items. This should come as good news to internet marketers who cater to these blog-hungry shoppers on the web. According to the study, this generation accounts for 31 percent of all consumer web ... [more]

Part of the 2012 Mongoose Metrics Data Series found that mobile internet access accounts for approximately 9 percent of all traffic. However, the report also found that about 10 percent of websites are fully optimized for mobile access, which means 90 percent are incapable of serving these users completely. Ensuring that a website is accessible to smartphone and tablet users is ... [more]

Google has added a Share button on its Google.com homepage, allowing users to share content on Google+ from the company's primary homepage. This is hardly the first attempt Google has made to make its social platform easier for users to access, and businesses should monitor resulting social media marketing opportunities. While the search box is still the main feature and focus ... [more]

Marketers and consumers alike are buzzing about Pinterest. With pinners exponentially increasing, the social media marketing opportunities on the network are rising, and businesses are sprinting to stay on top of this rapidly growly site.   As Brafton reported, the site was named one of the fastest growing websites at the start of 2012. Users who like what they see from companies ... [more]

On Tuesday, microblogging website Twitter and Russian search engine Yandex reached an accord, allowing the content from the social network to appear in Yandex's search results. The Russian search portal will create a separate tool for users to search through posts in Russian and other related languages, while Google searchers have no such option. (Twitter marketers, take note.) ... [more]

In a survey of 400 consumers, AYTM Market Research found that search and other web users are unlikely to click on any kind of web ads. Moreover, the poll revealed that even those who click on this content do so rarely. In terms of PPC ads, 33.3 percent said they rarely click on paid links, while 23.8 say they never do so. Moreover, sponsored links within email campaigns generate ... [more]

Users can now easily block PPC ads when they bounce back to SERPs from them, much like they can block search results if they find the websites unhelpful. The feature places an especially large focus on high-quality content as part of SEO and, now, PPC campaigns. The PPC blocking capability means businesses must ensure landing page content for PPC ads is informative and engaging. ... [more]