In addition to today's Internet Marketing Monitor coverage, we felt these stories were worth pulling out of the multitude of news items for April 3, 2007: 

  Introducing Google Apps referrals  [Inside AdSense]

Google continues to add new products to its referral program.  Google Apps is the newest option and pays out $5 for each person that clicks the referral ad on your site, signs up with a domain that isn't already registered, and uses their Google Apps email address for at least a month.

  Linkbait is Useless Without Analytics  [Bruce Clay]

Lisa Barone raises a good question here:  how do you know if your site is leaving a bad taste in visitors' mouths?  As Matt said some weeks ago, when you deal in linkbait you're walking a fine line.  So without a way to track visitor behaviors and browsing patterns, how do you know if you've crossed the line or not?  Comments?  Feedback?  Email?  None of those methods will tell you when people are simply leaving your site in disgust.  So come on folks… this isn't new:  make sure you're tracking your visitors somehow!

  Over optimization or weighting algorithms?  [SEO Buzz Box]

I couldn't have said this any better myself:  "It may seem that your site bouncing around in the 950 range is being penalized or filtered but it is more likely that it does not meet the correct criteria for your niche. Improve the quality for humans, let natural links develop and watch the magic happen."  And like I said back in January… if your site is designed well, filled with good content, and SE-friendly, an algorithm change shouldn't have that much of an impact on your ranking.

  Have You Verified Your Business with Google?  [SEO by the Sea]

Those of us who know and follow search engine development often forget that some of these basics go unknown to the general population.  So whether you remind a business-owning friend, have business clients, or are a business owner yourself, make sure you can answer this question with a "YES" (or help someone else to answer).  If not… what are you waiting for?  Get thee to the Google Local Business Center and get that verification process started (plus don't forget about the printable coupons you can create at the LBC).

  Weather Report  [Yahoo! Search Blog]

In addition to detailing their schedule for the upcoming SES New York conference, Yahoo announced plans to implement a search index update tonight.  The company says the update will be quick but could result in noticeable changes to ranking and indexed pages.  But like I said a couple of stars up… these algorithm changes really shouldn't change your rank all that much.  If they do… you probably know why.

Another Tuesday comes to a close.  I'm just gonna make sure the lid is tight on the snake cage and then I'm out.  Until tomorrow…  have a great evening!