We all thought it was going to be a very tough year in 2009.

Google have announced their intention to launch a new search engine dubbed "Caffeine"

This will affect search marketing significantly.

Expedia do though! - they claim more bookings are taken online on Mondays than any other day!

And not surprisingly at times that mirror the "Coronation Street Effect" - i.e. between 7 and 9 PM.  

This is only half the story however - both UK Cottage companies and Holiday Parks have their busiest booking days on Sundays with UK Hotels finding Wednesday the best day for business.

Fridays are the quietest.

Trackable numbers are fast becoming a necessity. Not only can accurate data on response be supplied but the ancillary management information provided can provide that all important commercial advantage over your competitors.

The good news for our clients is that Artavia have now secured a contract with a wholesaler to provide trackable numbers for free. That right you read it correctly - free.

That's good business.

Informational searches are more 'browsing'-led, looking for updates, the most recent breaking news and so on

In this context, a paid search ad can't necessarily offer a very compelling proposition - 'more accurate information', anyone?! When it comes to searches relating to purchase, however, it's more results-led. Paid links are much more relevant, and consumers are more receptive to them."

In other words PPC.

What is the optimium balance of spend between SEO and PPC?

That's where being a client comes in handy!

No, this is not a discection of Heinz Guederains tactics in 1940

But a reference to the much talked about coming war for dominance between Apple and Google for advertising dominance on mobile phones