Windows Live will go through a series of changes in the coming months to incorporate various web 2.0 and social media elements into their services.  The goal of these updated services is to keep users in touch in various ways. Another goal for Windows Live is to increase users’ time on site.  Microsoft hopes to achieve these goals by incorporating upgrades such as news feeds and user profiles.

Additionally, Windows Live will utilize news feeds on their homepage. The news feeds will give users the option of including select activities from certain sites to appear on their contacts’ feeds.  Some of the sites included on the feeds are: Amazon, Yelp, WordPress, Twitter and other social networking sites.  Another component of the revamp is an emphasis on photo sharing. Photobucket and Flickr will play integral parts of the updates and provide users with photo sharing options.  Windows Live’s social media elements position the company to achieve their goals.

Microsoft remains persistent in its attempts to compete with Google and Yahoo. Its newest tactic involves social networking giant, Facebook. Although Microsoft has already invested a reported $240 million on Facebook, it plans to expand its presence on the site by incorporating LiveSearch.

Both companies are likely to benefit from this negotiation, as social networking sites like Myspace and Bebo are already partnered with Google (Myspace) and Yahoo (Bebo). Additionally, Microsoft will have exposure to a larger audience, allowing for more traffic. Furthermore, having a search engine on Facebook would deter from users navigating away from Facebook to search other information. It appears Microsoft is making its way towards gaining an audience with its partnership with HP in June, and its prospective deal with Facebook.

Microsoft’s plans to acquire Powerset were confirmed this week. What kind of changes will take place as a result of the acquisition? Microsoft will take advantage of Powerset’s innovative features. These features include search and natural language capabilities. With the incorporation of Microsoft into Powerset, Livesearch will take on the natural language features.

Powerset will also benefit through Microsoft’s financial stability. According to reports, Powerset will maintain its host of Wikipedia search and Discovery tool. Additionally, Powerset claims it will try out different products and features. With larger resources available, Powerset and Microsoft are positioned for success. Only time will tell, however, if this deal will give Microsoft its edge for competition with Google.

Google Analytics is a vital tool for those looking to track their website’s progress. With its many functions and capabilities, Google Analytics can mean the difference between a successful campaign and a mediocre one.

There are many advantages to using Google Analytics. One clear advantage is that the service is free, allowing companies extra budgets for their marketing campaigns. Beyond its cost effectiveness, Google Analytics gives businesses an in-depth look at user behavior. Some of the questions that Analytics can help answer may include: How long are users staying on my website? How do they find my site? What keywords are searched when finding my site? Targeting keywords for a business’ website is facilitated through the incorporation of Google Adwords into Analytics.

Google Analytics also integrates a series of visual aids further providing an all-inclusive perspective on website trends and user behavior. These visual aids consist of various charts and graphs, which can track revenue, conversion rates and ROI. Furthermore, these charts track the ways in which users navigate throughout websites.