Last quarter you gave us feedback on what you'd like to see on the blog, and many of you asked for more case studies on how other advertisers have succesfully used AdWords. Google has a site devoted to AdWords Success Stories, and today we'd like to highlight two of those stories: Twiddy & Company Realtors Twiddy is a vacation rental company in North Carolina that has effectively used Analytics and AdWords to optimize its website and deliver profitable traffic. Check out Twiddy's success story. (click to view video) JustAnswer JustAnswer is a pay-per-question site based in San Francisco that has used AdWords and the Google Content Network to cost-effectively reach its customers. Check out JustAnswer's success story. Be sure to check out the other 22 success stories or submit your own. Posted by Amanda Kelly, Inside AdWords crew Category: Google Adwords Case studies.

Google has launched the UK's first business advice channel on YouTube, Survival of the Fastest, in partnership with the Daily Telegraph and the London Business School. The channel houses a collection of bitesized video insights and inspirational ideas from some of the best business brains in the UK. The channel has been featured by both the Daily Telegraph and Media Week. Contributors include Ogilvy UK Vice Chairman, Rory Sutherland; IAB Chief Executive, Guy Phillipson; Chief Executive of WPP, Sir Martin Sorrell; and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. We now have 120 videos; last week we launched 30 new videos and fresh content will be uploaded regularly. On the 'Trends' tab, you will find a gadget called The Barometer. It uses Google search data to track how consumer confidence is changing in comparison with other key economic and social indicators that you can select. You can add this gadget to your iGoogle homepage. With the launch of the channel, there will also be a series of events and webinars to help businesses speed up in the slowdown. If you would like to learn more about these events and receive email updates when new content is added to the channel, you can subscribe to Survival of the Fastest on the 'Join Us' tab. We hope you will join this business community which is developing in the spirit of YouTube – rate videos, leave comments and offer up your own video responses. Visit the channel to hear what the experts have to say and participate to make your voice heard. Posted by Rosie Rankin, Agency Team Category: Google Adwords .

Little Changes, Large Results: 5 Things Marketers Can Do Now In today's tough economic climate, it's increasingly important for marketers to utilize resources effectively - in particular, media dollars - in order to maximize ROI. But often times, marketers overlook what's immediately achievable. Last week, Google Analytics Evangelist, Avinash Kaushik, led a discussion on the 'Top 5 Things Marketers Can Do Now" in order to maximize ROI. We realize some of you may have missed the opportunity to hear Avinash speak, but may still be interested in the tips he was able to provide. As such, you can view the recording below. After viewing this recording, you'll learn how to immediately implement Avinash's tips for using data-driven insights to guide your marketing message and media strategies. You'll walk away knowing how to improve marketing efficiency, drive insights into consumer behavior, and generate greater returns on your marketing investments. Posted by The Google Retail Team Category: Google Adwords .

Be prepared by signing up to our webinar The new creative trafficking interface was introduced in the winter release of DFP. As of May 30 2009, this will be integrated as part of the standard DFP UI. Learn about the upcoming changes in our webinar taking place soon. Date: Thursday, 28 May 2009 Time: 14:00, GMT Daylight Time (GMT +01:00, London) Follow this link to register for the webinar: https://googleonline.webex.com/googleonline/j.php?ED=123704062&RG=1&UID=0 Category: DoubleClick .

The following new features are available in Google Sites: – The site navigation widget can now be organized into a hierarchical tree structure. – The navigation widget can also be set up to highlight the current page and subgroup pages into categories. – The editing toolbar has been updated to more closely resemble Google Docs. – The site settings area now uses vertical navigation. – The rendering infrastructure been modified to improve performance. Related Colors and Fonts settings have been grouped. A "From theme" option to each variable to make it easier to revert to a previous theme. – Sidebar gadgets and page canvas gadgets can now be independently styled via colors and fonts. – Users can now configure a "site language" which allows for a uniform language experience for site viewers. Editions included: Standard, Premier, Education, Team and Partner Editions Languages included: All languages supported by Google Sites How to access what's new: To access the new navigation widget, click the 'Edit sidebar' link below the sidebar (or choose 'Manage site' from the 'More actions' menu). You can then edit the navigation widget. To configure the site language, click 'More actions', select 'Manage site' and choose 'Other Stuff' to select a language from the 'Site display language' dropdown. For more information: http://googleappsposts.blogspot.com/2009/05/hierarchical-navigation-and-other-new.html Get these product update alerts by email Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates Category: .

As college graduation loomed just a few months away, my friends and I were going through a very stressful process: the job search. In addition to questions like “Am I qualified?” or “Will anyone want to hire me?”, questions such as “To what kind of company can I commit?” kept me up at night. I knew I couldn't work for an organization whose philosophy did not seem right to me. Google’s “Don’t Be Evil” principle, which permeates everything the company does, is what made me look twice. Now that I’ve been here for almost a year, it's initiatives like Google Grants, a program I regularly volunteer with as an AdWords specialist, that have confirmed for me again and again that I’ve picked the right place for me. Earlier this week, I conducted an AdWords seminar for a group of non-profit representatives in North Carolina. Talking to them about the marketing challenges that their organizations face, I realized just how much of an impact Google Grants makes for each of these organizations. When marketing dollars are not only scarce, but even non-existent in a small non-profit organization, a free AdWords account can really mean the difference between sustaining a volunteer base and having to close its doors. Recognizing this, I can say with confidence that no matter how busy I get with my primary job at Google, I will always find time to be a Google Grants volunteer. As far as I am concerned, the Google Grants program really takes that “Don’t Be Evil” principle to a whole different level. The amount of passion and commitment that I've seen amongst the Grants team is one thing that makes me confident in standing behind Google’s philosophy. To me, it’s simple: when you know that you can make a difference, there’s no choice but to get inspired – and get involved. Posted by Sasha Kukunova, Boston AdWords Team Category: Grants Program.

We're pleased to announce that in May and June, we'll hold two series of Google Grants webinars with NTEN, the Nonprofit Technology Network. After the positive feedback we received from last year's series, we decided to work with NTEN again to offer two tracks for current grantees, one beginner and one advanced series. Both tracks consist of multiple sessions designed to help your organization learn how to maximize your Google Grant and meet your goals. For more details and to register, please visit NTEN's website. Hope you can join us! And for those who can't attend or those who want to brush up before the sessions, please check out our educational resources available in the Help Center, including our Beginner's Guide, Analytics Guide, and online trainings. Posted by Kristie Ferketich, Google Grants Team Category: .

On June 2nd and 3rd SMX Advanced will take place in Seattle, and search engine marketers will gather to discuss what they do best. If you're planning on attending the event, register here and use the discount code smx15google for a 15% discount on an All Access Pass. Enjoy the conference! Posted by Katie Wasilenko, Agency Team Category: Google Adwords .

Posted by Ryan Sands, Book Search Online Team It may come as no surprise to the book nerds out there (you know who you are), but the annals of written history are full of visual gems. When you come across something amazing in a public domain title scanned via our Library Project, you can simply snag the chunk of text or image using our Share this Clip feature in Google Book Search (). This feature allows you to click and select a section of text from a public domain title with your mouse. Then, simply take the HTML code provided and copy and paste it in to your site or blog (or choose the option to send it to Blogger directly). Today on the way to work I saw two different drivers piloting Smart Cars along the highway, and it got me thinking about how strange (but awesome) these cars look compared to the trucks and sedans I grew up around. When I got in to the office, I started digging around Google Book Search. Using the Share this Clip tool, I put together this collection of old school methods of transportation. [Please note, some content may not be available in full view to users outside of the United States.] The Conquest of the Air by Abbott Lawrence Rotch Forest and Stream Journal Around The World On A Bicycle by Thomas Stevens Saddle, Sled and Snowshoe by John McDougall Elementary Equitation: Principles of Horseback-Riding by Joseph Michaël Thomas Barretto de Souza Category: Google Book Search .

Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry® Enterprise Server will allow users to access Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts using built-in BlackBerry® applications. Google Apps Connector installs on BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, connecting it to the Google Apps servers and synchronizes email, calendar and contacts for BlackBerry® users. This functionality will be generally available in July 2009. Editions included: Premier and Education Editions Languages included: US English How to access what's new: Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry® Enterprise Server is currently in beta testing with select companies and universities, and will be available free of charge to all Premier and Education Edition customers this July. Learn how to upgrade to Google Apps Premier Edition to use this feature. For more information: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2009/05/google-apps-connects-with-blackberry.html Get these product update alerts by email Subscribe to the RSS feed of these updates Tip: Connect with other Google Apps admins in the Google Apps admin community. Category: .