Everybody gets their "fifteen minutes of fame". That one moment in time you are famous. And then you get back to your normal routine. It could very well be that my fifteen minutes of fame were this week.

I’m in Paris at the moment, visiting Le Web. I’m writing here for Searchcowboys about search-related topics like Michael Arrington’s talk with Marissa Mayer and the real time search panel. That last topic, real time search, I ow my fifteen minutes of fame to.

Last monday Google announced a couple of new features, one of them being real time search integration into their regular search results. I wrote about this on Searchcowboys. The next morning when I open up my e-mail I get a couple of alerts on my name. That happens almost daily and usually its nothing important, some copies of sites, some Searchcowboys and some Twitter. But now there was one which caught my eye: one from the BBC…?

I was a bit surprised to be honest. When I clicked on the link I found this article on the BBC website about real time search. In the article I was quoted next to Danny Sullivan from Searchengineland and Ryan Singel from Wired.com. A quote (with a link!!) from the BBC doesn’t happen every day. My fifteen minutes of fame therefore?

The top five seemed to have died a silent death. Each week a post about my favorites ultimately proved not feasible. Not because there was nothing to write about, but because there are too many other subjects to write about. To get the top five breathing again I now give a monthly overview of five articles that struck me. Same principle, but only once a month.

In this first ‘new’ version much attention for search topics. We get a look behind the scenes at Google, learn how we should deal with large search projects and what search 4.0 is all about. Also we take a look at your online identity, but the number 1 is an overview like this, but a very special one.

1. Go Get This
Website: Marjolijn.net
You have many lists on the web. Lists such as the one you’re reading right now. But the ‘list’ on the website of Cowgirl Marjolijn I feel is very special. She wanted her own "favorites" for the month to be much more visual. And she succeeded in a very special way. I think definitely worth a number 1 spot. Go have a look!

2. Search 4.0: Putting Humans Back In Search
Website: Searchengineland
We already have Web 2.0 and now there’s Search 4.0. 1.0 was about optimizing the page itself, 2.0 about links from other pages and 3.0 about vertical search. Danny Sullivan explains what Search 4.0 is.

3. Introduction to Google Search Quality
Website: Googleblog
Everyone wants to know what Google thinks is important. This is off course to get your website to score better in the rankings. In this post on the Google blog engineer Udi Manber writes about exactly that sort of thing.

4. Your Online Identity V. YOU: 5 Ways to Be Yourself Online
Website: Ignite Social Media
The online identity is hotly debated last year. How do you handle that? Ignite Social Media gives five tips on how you can handle your own online identity.

5. How to Take on a major SEO Client
Website: Searchenginewatch
To get a large website to rank in the search engines is a special project. Although this article focuses on the search engine companies, for anyone with a great site this is interesting to read.

[lang_nl]De top vijf deze week staat, hoe kan het ook anders, volledig in het teken van The Next Web 2008. Alle vijf de items zijn afkomstig van The Next Web. Het is mijn persoonlijke top vijf voor de ‘Next-Web-dagen’. Daarbij uiteraard de prijs voor Dutch Cowboys, het interview van Mark de Kock met Scoble en enkele presentaties. En vanwege het verbazingwekkende publiek: Diggnation.

1. Dutch Cowboys wint beste Weblog Award Next Web (4 april)
Website: Dutch Cowboys
Het moment voor mij was het moment dat Dutch Cowboys de prijs voor beste weblog ontving. Zoals ik ook al in mijn post over de Next Web aangeef vanwege het unieke moment dat we ‘op volle oorlogssterkte’ aanwezig waren en echt iets moois hebben neergezet. Daarom op nummer 1 deze week![/lang_nl]

[lang_en]The top five this week, how could it be otherwise, is completely dedicated to The Next Web 2008. All five items are submitted during The Next Web. It is my personal top five for the ‘Next-Web days." This of course includes the price for Dutch Cowboys, the interview of Mark de Kock with Scoble and some presentations. And because of the amazing audience: Diggnation.

1. Dutch Cowboys wins best Weblog Award Next Web (April 4) (Dutch)
Website: Dutch Cowboys
The ultimate moment for me was when Dutch Cowboys received prize for best weblog. As I pointed out in my post on the Next Web because of the unique moment that we were all present and really made a group effort. So at number 1 this week! [/lang_en]

[lang_nl]2. The Next Web: LIVE Interview met Scoble (4 april)
Website: Dutch Cowboys 
Een uniek moment in de blog-geschiedenis wat mij betreft. Mark de Kock (@markies op Twitter) is in gesprek met een van de beroemdste bloggers, de Amerikaan Robert Scoble. Twitteraar Jaap Stronks loopt langs en besluit het gesprek vast te leggen en direct te streamen. Dutch Cowgirl Marjolijn plaatst het live op Dutch Cowboys. Uniek!

3. Nova Spivack: “The Semantic Web as an open and less evil web” (4 april)
Website: Thenextweb
De presentatie van Nova Spivack op The Next Web was van zeer hoge kwaliteit. Het was nodig er erg geconcentreerd bij te blijven, maar dat was het waard. Op TheNextweblog schreef Anne van Helmond er een erg goed stuk over.

4. Diggnation live (3 april)
Website: Bas van den Beld en Dutch Cowboys
Een van de meest bizarre belevenissen van de afgelopen tijd zoals ik al in mijn eerdere post schreef. Moet je eigenlijk bij geweest zijn om het te snappen en te geloven.

5. The Next Web: Adeo Ressi – Get Funded for Your Dream (3 april)
Website: Bas van den Beld
Een artikel van dit eigen weblog in de top vijf is eigenlijk ‘not done’. Maar dit is een uitzondering omdat de presentatie van Adeo Ressi zo goed was komt ie deze week toch op nummer vijf.[/lang_nl][lang_en]2. The Next Web: LIVE Interview met Scoble (April 4)
Website: Dutch Cowboys
A unique moment in the blog history as far as I am concerned. Mark de Kock (@ markies on Twitter) is in conversation with one of the most famous bloggers, the American Robert Scoble. Twitterer Jaap Stronks walks by and decides to film it and directly stream it. Dutch Cowgirl Marjolijn places it live on Dutch Cowboys. Unique!

3. Nova Spivack: “The Semantic Web as an open and less evil web” (April 4)
Website: Thenextweb
The presentation of Nova Spivack on The Next Web was one of a very high quality. It was necessary to be very concentrated, but it was worth it. On TheNextweblog Anne van Helmond wrote is a very good piece on it.

4. Diggnation live (April 3)
Website: Bas van den Beld en Dutch Cowboys (Dutch)
One of the most bizarre experiences of the last time, as I wrote in my earlier post. You really to have been there to understand and to believe it.

5. The Next Web: Adeo Ressi – Get Funded for Your Dream (3 april)
Website: Bas van den Beld
An article of this weblog in the top five is pretty much ‘not done ‘. But this is an exception because the presentation of Adeo Ressi was really very good. Therforee this week at number five.[/lang_en]
 

After a period of absence the top five is back. Again you get an overview of five very interesting articles which provide more insight into the online opportunities. This week a lot of attention for Social Media and how you deal with it, including blogging and blogcomments. Last but not least an article about ‘community journalism’.

1. How to build a successful news blog: 10 information sources you can use (March 13th)
Website: DoshDosh
Daily many new blogs appear on the web. If you want to set up a successful blog (with a lot of high-quality content and visitors) that’s a lot of hard work. In an extensive post DoshDosh gives 10 important tips. Tip of the week!

2. Social Media Campaign vs. Social Media Strategy (March 10th)
Website: Ignite Social Media
How to use Social Media is not clear to everyone. Similarly, the difference between a campaign and a strategy is not always clear. At Ignite, Jim Tobin explains the difference.

3. Link Building Via Blog Comments : Is It Spamming Or Not? (March 12th)
Website: Searchenginejournal
Maybe you wonder why I want to go to the Search Engine Strategies in the coming week. Searchenginewatch gives seven reasons why one should visit the Congress. And could even think of seven more…

4. Nine Essential Tactics For Reputation Management In Social Media (March 13th)
Website: Searchengineland
Your online reputation is becoming increasingly important. Not only for individuals but also for organizations. On Searchengineland Marty Weintraub, following his presentation on SMX, talks about how to use tactics herein.

5. Journalism in the Hands of the Neighborhood (March 10th)
Website: The New York Times
‘Citizen journalism’, that is what the gathering and dissemination of news content on the Web by users is called. There are many people who have a problem with this term and the phenomenon. In the New York Times a nice article on the "Mobilizing Media Project in Philadelphia which is all about ’community journalism’.

Last week Searchme launched the "private beta" version of its visual search engine. With this search engine you can ‘stroll’ through your search results.

In addition to the ‘apple’-like look-and-feel, the search engine is also innovative in how it categorizes search results. This again is very visual. For example, if you search for "Apple" you can get icons to choose between categories like "Fruit" or "Technology".

This makes searching obviously a lot more pleasant for the user. Moreover, there is another dimension to optimizing a page for search engines. For example,yYou need to ensure a clear  page that even on a ‘smaller’ format makes clear that the visitor can find on that page what they are looking for. Clarity and design will then play a greater role.

As I have said, the service is currently only in private beta. This means you cannot try the service right away. If you sign you get an invitation sent to you a.s.a.p.. Until that time you can see the demo and see how ‘beautiful’ it will be: [/lang_en]
 

Getting stock material is getting photos and videos on the Web, for a small fee, or sometimes even for free. Stock material can be used for various purposes. As owner of a website you do not have to get photos or videos specially made for you. This saves money. The disadvantage may be that the material also can be used by others. The content is not "unique".

Hillary Clinton experienced another disadvantage. For a campaign film about the sense of security her campaign team used stock material of Getty Images. On one of the images figures a little girl asleep. The images used have been made a number of years ago. This girl is now ready to vote AND a big supporter of Obama… So she decided to walk directly to the press…

Watch the video:

This weekend there was a lot of rumor about the report on the problems at the football club Ajax. On Friday the report leaked to a number of journalists. On Sunday it was presented.

One of the many criticisms heard was that Ajax is no longer the ‘open club’ of the past but is a closed organization. This, they say, has everything to do with the IPO of the club.

Ajax is still not really open about the follow up of the report. The President yesterday did not answer any questions dealing with the consequences of the report. Still there was some openness: the dissemination of the report. Ajax placed a PDF of the entire report on its website. At least that is openness.

Anyone can now read the report. That would not have been possible 20 years ago. Long live the medium Internet!

Read the whole report in PDF format (see also website Ajax)

[lang_nl]Omdat ik de komende week de Search Engine Strategies in Londen ga bezoeken deze keer een speciale Top vijf. De top vijf staat vandaag geheel in het teken van Zoekmachinemarketing. Vijf artikelen die meer inzicht geven in het hoe en wat van zoekmachinemarketing.

1. 7 Things I Love About Small Business SEO (14 februari)
Website: Searchengineland
Op Valentijnsdag besloot Matt McGee zijn liefde voor zoekmachineoptimalisatie aan de hele wereld duidelijk te maken. In dit artikel legt hij in zeven punten uit waarom zoekmachineoptimalisatie voor de kleinere organisaties zo’n leuk onderdeel van zoekmachineoptimalisatie is. Uit persoonlijke ervaring kan ik het hier alleen maar heel erg mee eens zijn.[/lang_nl][lang_en]Because this week I will be visiting the Search Engine Strategies in London a special top five. All the articles are about Search Engine Marketing. Five articles to teach you more about SEM!

1. 7 Things I Love About Small Business SEO (February 14)
Website: Searchengineland
On Valentine’s Day Matt McGee decided to share his love for Search Engine Marketing with the entire world. In this article in 7 points he explains why Search Engine Marketing for smaller organizations so much fun. From personal experience I can only agree.
 [/lang_en]

[lang_nl]2. Death of SEO Transparency (14 februari)
Website: Searchenginejournal
Zoekmachinemarketing is voor veel mensen een ondoorzichtig iets. Organisaties hebben geen idee wat ze moeten doen en hoe ‘het’ precies werkt. Daarom huren ze een bureau in die daarin gespecialiseerd is. De technieken die een dergelijk bureau gebruikt zijn vaak ook ondoorzichtig. Rhea Drysdale gaat in haar posting op Searchenginejournal in op de ondoorzichtigheid van het werk van deze bureaus.

3. Seven reasons to slip over to Islington for SES London (15 Februari)
Website: Searchenginewatch
Misschien vraag je je af wat ik nou te zoeken heb op de Search Engine Strategies de komende week. Searchenginewatch geeft zeven redenen om het congres te bezoeken. En ik kan er zo nog wel zeven bij bedenken…

4. Democrat Hillary Clinton: 2008 Presidential Candidates & Online Marketing Strategies (13 februari)
Website: Searchmarketinggurus
De verkiezingen in de Verenigde Staten hebben een hoog internet-gehalte. Er wordt gebruik gemaakt van weblogs, YouTube en ook zoekmachinemarketing. Li Evans keek naar de strategieën van Hillary Clinton.

5. SEO Tips for Public Relations (13 februari)
Website: Toprankblog
Wat heeft Zoekmachinemarketing met Public Relations te maken? Heel veel! Bij heleboel pr-activiteiten moet rekening gehouden worden met de ‘macht van de zoekmachines’. Lee Odden gaat hier uitgebreid op in. Zeker het lezen waard![/lang_nl][lang_en]2. Death of SEO Transparency (February 14)
Website: Searchenginejournal
Search Engine Marketing is for many people a bit vague. Organizations have no idea what they should do and how ‘it’ works. So they hire an agency which is specialized in SEM. The techniques from such an agency is also often opaque. Rhea Drysdale talks is in her posting on Searchenginejournal about the opacity of the work of these agencies.

3. Seven reasons to slip over to Islington for SES London (February 15)
Website: Searchenginewatch
Maybe you wonder why I want to go to the Search Engine Strategies in the coming week. Searchenginewatch gives seven reasons why one should visit the Congress. And could even think of seven more…

4. Democrat Hillary Clinton: 2008 Presidential Candidates & Online Marketing Strategies (February 13)
Website: Searchmarketinggurus
The candidates for the presidential elections in the United States make use of the Internet a lot. They use weblogs, YouTube and also Search Engine Marketing. Li Evans took a look at the strategies of Hillary Clinton.

5. SEO Tips for Public Relations (February 13)
Website: Toprankblog
What does Search Engine Marketing have to do with Public Relations? Very much! In many PR activities one should take into account the ‘power of the search engines’. Lee Odden wrote a big article on it. Definitely worth reading! [/lang_en]

[lang_nl]Deze week in de top vijf veel search. We beginnen echter met tips voor een succesvolle website voor een miljoenenpubliek. Verder wordt ingegaan op Search-experts: bestaan die? En wanneer zet je die in? Tot slot weer een artikel van de veel in deze top vijf voorkomende website Frankwatching. Zij geven een checklist voor het “scanbaar” schrijven van teksten.

1. Tips voor website succes (6 februari)
Website: Multiscope
John Kivit van Multiscope is een fervent twitteraar. Via die weg werd ik door hem dan ook gewezen op zijn posting “Tips voor website succes” op de website van Multiscope. John schrijft hier een lang artikel over de randvoorwaarden waar je site aan moet voldoen wil je miljoenen bezoekers kunnen bereiken. Kivit geeft vijf tips en benoemt een aantal valkuilen. Hoewel niet op iedere site toepasbaar zijn de tips goed om in je bouwproces mee te nemen. Tip van de week dus![/lang_nl][lang_en] This week in the top five a lot of search. We start, however, with tips to get a successful website with millions of visitors. Next we focus on Search-experts: do they exist? And if so, when do you use them? Finally, another article from the much quoted website in this top five Frankwatching. They provide a checklist for writing "scanable" webtexts.

1. Tips for website success (6 februari) (Dutch)
Website: Multiscope
John Kivit of Multiscope is a frequent twitterer. Through that way, he pointed me to his posting "Tips for website success" on the website of Multiscope. John wrote a long article on which issues you have to think of if you want to reach millions of visitors. Kivit gives five tips and appoints a number of pitfalls. Although not applicable to each site the tips are good to keep in mind while building your website. Tip of the week! [/lang_en]

[lang_nl]2. How to Involve an SEO Expert during the Web Design Process (12 februari)
Website: Wilsonweb
Het moment van het inschakelen van experts tijdens je webproject is voor veel organisaties moeilijk te bepalen. Eigenlijk geldt vaak: hoe eerder hoe beter. Dat geldt met name ook voor SEO-experts, de mensen die je kunnen helpen bij het beter gevonden worden in zoekmachines. Ross Dunn praat in zijn artikel “How to Involve an SEO Expert during the Web Design Process” over de momenten waarop een SEO-expert ingezet moet worden.

3. Search Behavior Patterns
Website: Boxes and Arrows
Iedereen wil graag goed gevonden worden. De meeste organisaties die ik tegenkom roepen “ik wil bovenaan staan op deze termen”. Daarbij hebben ze er vaak niet over nagedacht of hun potentiële bezoekers ook daadwerkelijk op die termen zoeken. Het is daarom belangrijk te weten hoe surfers zoeken. In dit lange artikel gaat John Ferrara in op patronen in het zoekgedrag van surfers. Leer hiervan en weet hoe je bezoekers surfen.

4. Does The Search Engine Optimization Expert Really Exist? (4 februari)
Website: Bruce Clay
Bij nummer twee verwijs ik naar het moment waarop een SEO-expert moet  worden ingezet. Maar bestaat er eigenlijk wel zoiets als een SEO-expert? Naar aanleiding van een post van Michael Martinez gaat Lisa Barone in op het verschil tussen “thought leaders” en “knowledge leaders” in de SEO-industrie. Leuk artikel als je de industrie een beetje kent.

5. Checklist scanbaar schrijven (8 februari)
Website: Frankwatching
Je kan een website hebben vol met hoogwaardige teksten en toch hoeft deze website niet goed gelezen te worden. Hoe dat kan? Men “leest” veel minder op het web en “scant” steeds meer. Hierop kan je als website eigenaar inspelen door je teksten anders op te bouwen. Aartjan van Erkel geeft op Frankwatching een checklist voor het “scanbaar” schrijven. Erg handig.[/lang_nl][lang_en]2. How to Involve an SEO Expert during the Web Design Process (February 12)
Website: Wilsonweb
Deciding which is the best moment of hiring experts during your web project is difficult for many organizations. In general I would say: the sooner the better. This is particularly true for SEO experts, the people who can help you to get better found in search engines. Ross Dunn talks in his article "How to Involve an SEO Expert during the Web Design Process" about the different stages when an SEO expert can be used.

3. Search Behavior Patterns (February 3)
Website: Boxes and Arrows
Everyone wants to rank well in search engines. Most of the organizations that I encounter say things like "I want to rank high on these terms". But in fact, they often have not thought about the question if their potential visitors actually search on those terms. It is therefore important to know how surfers search. In this long article John Ferrara looks at patterns in search. Learn from this article and know how your potential visitors are surfing.

4. Does The Search Engine Optimization Expert Really Exist? (February 4)
Website: Bruce Clay
At number two, I referred to the moment when an SEO expert should be hired. But is there actually something like an SEO expert? Following a post by Michael Martinez, Lisa Barone talks about the difference between "thought leaders" and "knowledge leaders" in the SEO industry. Nice article if you know a bit about the SEO-industry.

5. Checklist scanbaar schrijven (February (Dutch article)
Website: Frankwatching
You can have a website full of high-quality texts but the website still isn’t read very well. How is this possible? That’s because people "read" a lot less on the Web and "scan" even more. As a website owner you can respond to this by setting up your content differently. Aartjan van Erkel of Frankwatching provides a checklist for writing "scanable texts". Very handy.[/lang_en]

[lang_nl]Het was heel erg moeilijk kiezen deze week welke artikelen in de top vijf zouden moeten komen. Er gebeurde namelijk zoveel. Zo was er in Utrecht het Speld in Hooiberg congres waar veel goede artikelen vandaan kwamen. En nog belangrijker: Microsoft deed een bod op Yahoo! En dan waren er nog vele vele andere goede artikelen deze week.

Maar ik heb er toch vijf uit kunnen lichten. Hierbij speelt Search een belangrijke rol. Google Universal Search is de tip van de week en uiteraard komen Yahoo! en Speld in Hooiberg ook langs. Ook Calacanis heeft het over search. Het vijftal artikelen wordt gecomplementeerd door een artikel over de Wall Street Journal

1. Google Universal Search: 2008 Edition (30 januari)
Website: Searchengineland
Ik ben een groot fan van Search Marketing goeroe Danny Sullivan. Ik luister geregeld naar zijn Dailysearchcast Podcast en leer veel van zijn podcasts en artikelen. Afgelopen week schreef Sullivan een zeer uitgebreide post over Google Universal Search. Hij legt in een zeer uitgebreid artikel uit wat de (nieuwe) mogelijkheden van Universal Search zijn. Absolute aanrader, maar je moet er wel even voor gaan zitten. [/lang_nl][lang_en]It was very difficult to choose which articles should be in the top five this week. A lot happened. In Utrecht there was the “Speld in Hooiberg” congress where many good articles came from. And even more important: Microsoft made a bid for Yahoo! And then, there were still many, many other good articles this week.

But I managed to choose five. Search plays an important role this week. Universal Google Search is the tip of the week and, of course, Yahoo! and “Speld in Hooiberg” also come along. Even Calacanis is talking about search. The five articles are complemented by an article on the Wall Street Journal

1. Universal Google Search: 2008 Edition (January 30)
Website: Searchengineland
I am a big fan of Search Marketing guru Danny Sullivan. I listen regularly to his Dailysearchcast Podcast and learn many of his podcasts and articles. Last week Sullivan wrote a very comprehensive post about Google Universal Search. He explains in a very comprehensive article what the (new) possibilities of Universal Search are. Highly recommended, but you should sit down for some time for this one. [/lang_en]

[lang_nl]2. Yahoo! and the future of the Internet (3 februari)
Website: Officiële Google Blog
Het grote nieuws was natuurlijk deze week dat Microsoft een vijandig bod deed op Yahoo! Volgens mij een onvermijdelijk gevolg van de suprematie van Google. Maar hoe reageert Google hierop? Op het officiële weblog van Google kan je lezen wat de gedachten van mensen van Google zijn. Ze zijn op zijn zachtst gezegd niet positief over Microsoft.

3. Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? (1 februari)
Website: TechCrunch
Het valt mij op dat de Nederlandse kranten relatief weinig doen aan de online wereld. De meesten hebben bovendien hun artikelen online achter slot en grendel staan, alleen tegen betaling kan je die bekijken. In de VS  heeft de New York Times haar artikelen inmiddels vrijgegeven, de Wall Street Journal nog niet. In dit artikel op TechCrunch wordt de klantvriendelijkheid van die krant aan de kaak gesteld.

4. Is search getting better or worse? (27 januari)
Website: Calacanis.com
Jason Calacanis is van mening dat het web vervuild wordt via zoekmachines. Daarom bedacht hij Mahalo, een door echte mensen gevulde en onderhouden zoekmachine. In dit korte artikel geeft hij cijfers en korte inzichten in het vertrouwen dat gebruikers hebben in search.

5. Search Marketing ontwikkelingen (31 januari)
Website: Dutch Cowboys
Het congres Speld in Hooiberg is momenteel de meest bezochte zoekmachinemarketing congres in Nederland. Paul Aelen van Checkit schreef op Dutch Cowboys speciaal voor dit congres een artikel over Search Marketing ontwikkelingen. In vijf korte punten geeft Paul inzicht in de toekomst ; ). [/lang_nl][lang_en]2. Yahoo! And the future of the Internet (February 3)
Website: Official Google Blog
The big news this week was, of course, that Microsoft made a hostile bid at Yahoo! I think an inevitable consequence of the supremacy of Google. But how will Google respond to this? On the official Google blog you can read what the thoughts of people from Google are. They are, to say the least, not positive about Microsoft.

3. Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? (February 1)
Website: TechCrunch
It strikes me that the Dutch newspapers do relatively little with the online world. Most papers also have their articles locked online, only if you pay for it you can read them. In the USA, the New York Times has released its articles, the Wall Street Journal hasn’t yet. In this article on TechCrunch, the hospitality of that newspaper is being questioned.

4. Is search getting better or worse? (January 27)
Website: Calacanis.com
Jason Calacanis has the opinion that the Web is being contaminated through search engines. So he came up with Mahalo, a search engine filled by and maintained by human hands. In this short article he provides numbers and short insights into the trust that users have in search.

5. Search Marketing developments (January 31) (Dutch article)
Website: Dutch Cowboys
The conference “Speld in Hooiberg” is currently the most visited search engine conference in the Netherlands. Paul Aelen of Checkit wrote on Dutch Cowboys specifically for this congress an article about Search Marketing developments. In five short paragraphs Paul gives insight into the future;). [/lang_en]