Google isn’t merely advising website makers to optimize their designs for smartphones. The internet search giant is pretty much backing them into a corner.

Google has just rolled out new search ranking changes that will effectively reduce the ranking of websites that aren’t yet optimized for the small screen.

“To improve the search experience for smartphone users and address their pain points, we plan to roll out several ranking changes in the near future that address sites that are misconfigured for smartphone users,” an announcement on Google’s Webmaster Central Blog reads.

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Are geo-targeted tweets really more powerful than search?

If you ask a knowledgeable source at Lenovo, the answer lands squarely in the affirmative. And here’s why.

According to a new case study presented by Twitter, Lenovo’s search marketing manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, indicates that geo-targeted tweets are far more effective than search when it comes to fostering engagement and boosting sales.

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As it turns out, social media and search go hand-in-hand.

From Facebook and Twitter, to Pinterest and MySpace (yes, it still exists), social media users are often on the search for… something.

For marketers, understanding the searches that lead to improved engagement is critical. To that end, Azntaiji Multimedia and SocialRadius have produced a new infographic highlighting exactly what so many of us are searching for.

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Google and Forbes are rolling out mobile recommendations powered by Google+, with Forbes as the launch partner.

That’s the official announcement from Forbes, writes Andrea Spiegel of the venerable publication.

The new content recommendation engine is meant to enable mobile websites to more widely deepen reader engagement and user loyalty.

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Google angered scores of longtime users over the weekend when it effectively dumped a number of popular products in one swift motion.

Among the casualties is one of the SMS-based products that had been enormously helpful to owners of low-end mobile devices or individuals without expansive data plans.

To the dismay of many, Google closed SMS Search.

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According to knowledgeable sources close to the developments at Yahoo, Marissa Mayer is said to be interested in ending her company’s 10-year search-advertising pact with Microsoft.

The reason is due to Mayer’s desire to reach a similar deal with Google.

Publicly, Mayer hasn’t discussed these plans although we’re told that efforts to curtail the deal with Microsoft have so far been unsuccessful.

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Over the weekend, mobile advertisers were given plenty to think about thanks to the release of a new study pointing to the surge in mobile search.

The Local Search Association and comScore, Inc. find that local search via non-PC devices continues its significant pace of growth, driven by the rapid adoption of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

“The continuing shift of mobile usage signals an opportunity for local businesses to evaluate where they devote their online ad spending,” the report reads, adding that:

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