Went to first Google U event last night at W Hotel in San Francisco. Google U is a highly focused introduction to the power of online search-based advertising. It was a pretty good event overall (especially the food, t-shirt, and $100 credit!).

Two key things I learned there:

1. Relevance is *very important*! It's exactly what google is all about. Choose relevant keywords and link it to relevant content (web pages).

2. Your ad's position is determined by two factors: maximum cost-per-click and your ad's actual clickthrough rate.

I also talked about the importance of search keywords (not the adwords keywords) and how it can help the business owners refine and optimize their keywords selection. There is no method to post the searched keywords to the target URL through a variable (say, $$Q$$) at the moment. I'm gonna submit this potential development opportunity tonight.

Speaking of Google, have you checked out the new WebQuotes project? It was launched yesterday. (Thanks, Evan)