Luke Hubbard

Google Conversion University has a robust set of lessons that help you learn Google Analytics. Once you complete all of the lessons, you can actually become certified by taking their Google Individual Qualifier test or “IQ test.”

The lessons in Conversion University give you a solid understanding of how to use Google Analytics including topics like: installing tracking code, interpreting reports,
setting up goals and filters, and advanced analytics.

Google also provides a list of 24 Conversion University videos on Youtube, which contain similar content to the videos in the Conversion University. However, experts such as Avinash Kaushik make special appearances in the Youtube videos. Here’s one of my favorite Youtube lessons:

CNN - Ken Auletta: 10 things Google has taught us – Oct. 26, 2009 .

I absolutely loved reading this article. It was very inspiring and insightful so I plan to purchase Ken’s book titled Googled: The End of the World As We Know It.  Below are the 10 things Ken Auletta states that Google has taught us (all taken directly from the CNN article): 

1. Passion wins

2. Focus is required

3. Vision is required too

4. A team culture is vital

5. Treat engineers as kings

6. Treat customers like a king

7. Every company is a frenemy

8. Don’t ignore the human factor

9. There are no certitudes

10. Life is long but time is short

Point #10 above is a quote from Eric Schmidt, according to Ken Auletta. Eric continues: “Life is long in the sense that we have long memories. Time is short in that you have to move very quickly. But to me the most important thing to know is that life has a way of working things out. We forget so quickly what the problem was three or four years ago. So my personal view of life is that every problem is an opportunity.”

Yahoo has had several exciting new releases recently including a new homepage, improvements to Yahoo Mail, new features for Yahoo mobile, and even enhancements to Yahoo Messenger.

Yahoo is hosting an interactive page that highlights their new search features.

Yahoo - Interactive Page Highlighting New Enhancements

Yahoo maintains a search blog with a a really cool tag line that summarizes its purpose: “A look inside the world of search from the people at Yahoo!”

Yahoo Search Blog

Video – Android 2.0

Wow, Apple is gaining on Microsoft according to CNN because of its massive iPhone application downloads. Check out these telling charts…. the top from 2009 and the bottom from 2008 for comparison:

Apple vs. Microsoft. 2009 Company Reports

Apple vs Microsoft 2008 for Comparison

Sources: CNN and Company Reports

Google rolled out a new experiment called Social Search , which shows search results based on relevance determined by people in your social circle. Unreal!

You can try Google Social Search out in Google Labs. Here’s a video that explains more…

Google determines your social circle by analyzing the friends in your Google profile, Gmail, and even people following you on Twitter. You must be signed in to your Google account in order for it to work. I’m a huge fan of this feature!

Mashable: Get Your Files Out of Google Docs With New Export Options.

This feature allows you to export all of your Google docs as a zip file. Previous to this release, you had to download each doc one at a time. Hip Hip Hooray!

Google Docs

Hair Club for Men has released a new Zombie Game called “Dead Sexy.” It’s a first person shooter game… when you kill the zombies, they turn into handsome men with hot ladies on their shoulders.

Games like this are typically developed by advertisers as a form of viral marketing. Hair Club offers the application directly on their website and also as a sharable app on Facebook. I give Hair Club an “A+” on this very amusing game and I highly suggest you try it out…

Hair Club Zombie Game

In the realm of Zombie Games, this one has got to be the most fun!

My favorite news of the year… Verizon will finally release the Google Android 2.0!

Verizon’s new Android commercial at first glance appears to be an Apple iPhone advertisement with simple text on a white background. However, watchers soon realize the ad is actually mocking the iPhone’s lack of: a real keyboard, ability to run simultaneous applications, a 5-megapixel camera, customization, widgets, open source development, interchangeable battery, and even ability to take pictures in the dark. Of course, the Android does have all of these features!