YouTube keyword suggestion tool

The YouTube keyword tool was launched in March 2009. For those of you familiar with the Google AdWords Tool, it works pretty much the same way. Instead of using web queries as the AdWords tool does, the YouTube tool tracks keywords that trigger videos on a particular topic. These keywords can then be saved and used to edit 'tags' when uploading videos. The example below shows keywords that were returned by the tool in relation to 'search engine marketing. The tool generated 33 keywords. Some of them are a bit out of place but other like 'internet marketing training' or 'sem' can be useful. This tool is probably more directional and I would think it will become more targeted as the number of videos and queries on YouTube increase.

Another feature offered by the tool is the video id or URL feature. I looked for a popular video on 'search engine marketing' and the tool returned keywords YouTube users entered to find this video. The functionality generated 46 keywords.

 

Google Adwords new advertising exam - is this good news?

According to Google AdWords blog, ''As part of our ongoing efforts to improve training materials and the Google Advertising Professionals program, we have updated the certification exam and learning center. The new test became available on November 13. The four main changes are as follow:

1) The test will cover a wider variety of questions. I took the old exam in which the breadth and depth of materials was already strong. I wonder why they would make it even broader. The previous exam has an entire section on campaign paid in non US currencies or mobile advertising. I would think these topics might not all be relevant to a broad audience. One possible improvement might be to offer a basic training supplemented by concentrations in particualr areas (such as mobile advertising for example).

2) From what I read in the various AdWords forum, the new test is a lot more conceptual. It requires a fair amount of thinking. The previous test was essentially interface questions for which mosts answers could be found by referring to the AdWords guide.

3) The passing score is now higher. It used to be 75% and is now 85%. The test is really no hard (see my previous post here) however it does require to memorize (or at least organize answers) to a lot of questions across a variety of topics.

4) The training center is now all in text. Previously you could choose either text or video. The tutorial videos did a very good job explaining the bits and pieces of each topic. For those people like who memorize visual elements better, it will be hard to read all this content, mostly on a screen. Too bad the videos are gone.

With this, good luck in passing the exam. Glad to know I don't have to pass mine for another two years.