Baby name search optimization

By Maura Welch  |  May 14, 2007

Rough Type
Think that enrolling your baby in the best nursery school while it’s still in utero is forward-thinking? Just wait. Some of today’s parents are thinking even farther ahead. Nicholas Carr points to a ‘‘sign of the times.’’ According to The Wall Street Journal, some expectant parents ‘‘are beginning to Google prospective baby names to ensure that their kids won’t face too much competition in securing a high search rank.’’ What’s the perfect baby shower present for a soon-to-be newborn who has already been search-engine optimized? Buy the Web domain that matches their name.

The Groundswell

Charlene Li lists the reasons why a Microsoft-Yahoo! merger makes good sense and then bets that it doesn't stand a chance. Why? The merger would be too difficult and Google is already too far ahead. "To fully realize the value of the merger, I believe there needs to be true audience consolidation under one brand," and Li sees no evidence that Microsoft has the stomach for it. Then there's the daunting task of merging the culture, the leadership, and the geography of the two former rivals, all the while chasing Google's relentless pace. Li recommends they date first through expanded partnerships before going down the aisle.

BusinessWeek

He is the oracle of Omaha and he's surrounded by "piles of cash." Having pronounced that he's got $40 billion to $60 billion to spend on an acquisition, speculation is rampant. What will Warren Buffet acquire next? If Buffet makes a play for a large company, BusinessWeek puts odds on Caterpillar, Ikea, Valero Energy, or Lowes. Typically Buffet stays out of businesses he doesn't understand, so no Yahoo! on this list.

Between the Lines

Joost promises to become the new way to watch TV on the Internet -- free to watch, high quality, full screen, lots of shows, easy channel flipping, plus search, chat, and IM built right into the program. It's founded by the founders of Skype. They plan to provide ad-supported, copyright-protected video. They just landed a whopping $45 million from VCs, CBS, and Viacom. Joost promises what both big media and consumers are looking for. Is Joost the future of TV?

FC Now

Buildings account for a staggering 38 percent of CO{-2} emissions in the United States (more than either the transportation or industrial sectors) and they consume 70 percent of all US electricity. But there is reason to be optimistic "because the technology to make substantial reductions in energy and CO{-2} emissions already exists" and the industry is starting to get its act together. Architects, HVAC, and engineering groups recently signed an agreement to focus on designing zero-energy buildings, with the goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.

USAToday

Google employees work hard, but they are pampered. Here's a sampling of on-the-job benefits: free organic food, laundry machines, a gym, massages, volleyball court, bike repairs, on-site doctors and on-site haircuts. "Workers with new babies can bill the company for up to $500 for take-out food." Why do companies pamper? "To motivate workers and give them a sense of community" and to boost productivity. Work hard. Get pampered. So you'll work harder.

Forbes

Attaching celebrity to products drives sales. So it's not too surprising that star-powered wines are hitting the shelves. While some, like Joe Montana, just lend their name to the wine, other celebrities are very serious about the craft. "Later this year, actor Dan Aykroyd will release his Signature Reserve label in Canada; it will arrive in U S stores in 2008. That's on the heels of 'Sopranos' star Lorraine Bracco's eponymous line and three Ernie Els labels, both launched in 2004." Will wine collections soon include Aykroyd reds?