Image via CrunchBase

Recently Baidu PPC accounts become the target of hackers; if your company runs paid search on Baidu, make sure your account is safe and what to do next if it’s hacked.

It’s time to check with your account manager or consultant if any of the following happens:

• Account suspended due to “illegal” keywords and/or ad copies (delete them if you find)
• New keywords are added (e.g. “taobao” related shopping keywords)
• Sudden change in daily spend levels

Use alert feature to remind yourself when the account hits a specified daily budget; also, do set a strong password. Don’t forget to claim a refund if someone used your PPC fund.

Baidu PPC Geo-targeting

For those who are familiar with AdWords’ geographic targeting feature, you know that your ads could also appear to those use physical location term in the search queries even though they are not physically in the location you specify. And, this is not the case on Baidu.

Baidu, however, will launch a new feature this Thursday (Feb 16) to its geographic targeting which advertisers can enable to target those not in the geo-targeted area but use that location term as part of the query.  [Read more...]

Social Feature in Baidu Search Results

Baidu is found been testing Google +1 like features in its search results pages, like the screenshot shown above. A thumb up icon is displayed with a number in SERPs beside the display URL, like the Facebook Like box.

Visit this link (“Baidu”) or this one (“Guge”, Google’s Chinese brand name) or this (“Sogou”) to have a live view. I tested some keywords and only found keywords related to search engine brand terms that triggers this social icon. [Read more...]

Baidu Open Beta Platform

Baidu officially released its Open Beta Test Platform last Tuesday, a convenient “one-stop shop” for users interested in participating the latest Baidu products testing.

Upon signing in, users will discover a personal center, a mission assignment square, an on-the-spot survey column, a gifts center, and an accomplishment column. Users can click on the button “receive mission” to begin testing the product right away. New users can find newbie instruction guides and detailed information on the user points accumulation system under the Platform Strategy column, and begin maneuvering effortlessly through the platform in no time. [Read more...]