We have started to notice that Google is continuing to improve the indexing of Flash objects (SWFs). They seem to be doing a fairly decent job, but since many Adobe Flash developers are unaware of this fact, much of that content is jiberish (variable names, stage elements, i.e.) in spite of the fact that Google says they are using an ‘interaction’ algorithm.

Here are couple of thoughts and recommendations:

• Google’s spidering of Flash content will come as a surprise to many. Developers or publishers who do not want Google to expose the contents of their Files should consider updating their robots.txt files (Disallow: /*.swf$)
• Developers who wish to potentially enhance their Flash or widget SEO, should consider putting “meaningful” content on the main stage of the Flash objects and cleaning up any placeholders or default text

A quick roundup of recent widget news, trends and analysis:

• Clearspring to Exit Widget Sharing Business
  Clearspring is is putting one of its widget services (Launchpad), to bed and focusing all its energy on the AddThis service. (more)
• Thinking Screen Media Brings Widgets to Syabas’ DAVID Platform
  Metablocks client make widget waves on TV and set-top platforms.
• Hackers break into RockYou and Gain Access to Social Media Data
  Hackers broke into an online database hosted at RockYou.com and illegally accessed the usernames and passwords for more than 30 million users of Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and Orkut.
• Government Departments Continue Widget Trend
  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched a widget last week that can help distribute user-friendly public-health information.

Here are some interesting recent widget related post from our Widgetmatic Blog:

• Widgetmatic Series Beefs Up Online Video Support and Options
  Video has always been a key component on widgets. With their growing popularity, online videos quickly and easily be integrated into both custom and prefab Widgetmatic widgets.
• Widgetmatic AIR Widgets for the Desktop
  While many people use Adobe Flash-based widgets on the Web, dashboard widgets have allowed users to access the same widget functionality on their own desktop.
• Clearspring API’s going Away – What to Do Next?
  You have about 100 days left till April 5^th, 2010 when your Clearspring widgets will stop working (unless you switch to their AddThis platform, Gigya or another widget sharing provider). 
• New Quantcast Web Analytics Tab for Widgets!
  Recently we have added a family of web analytics tabs which rely on both public (Alexa.com, Compete.com) and internal web analytics (Google Analytics, Omniture) information that can be incorporated into a Widgetmatic widget.

Sparrow Records (EMI) artist Matthew West has had a great year! With one of the year’s most popular Christian singles (Motions), a Grammy Nomination and a successful “Give This Christmas Away” tour has landed Matthew in new headlines (USA Today, FOX News, i.e.).  Shortly before Thanksgiving, we were tapped by Matthew’s social media savvy manager (Method Management) to help better communicate his message (and boost his presence) on Facebook.  You can checkout Matthew’s Christmas 2009 custom Facebook page here. The page features sound, video, and a free download (which “encourages” who aren’t already fans to become fans!)

Creating a marketing presence on Facebook is more than a good idea! It’s essential! Consider this – fans spend a lot more time on Facebook than they do on any artist website! In fact, users spend more on time on Facebook than any other site on the web! According to Mashables, Nielsen Online reports that in August users spent an average of 5 hours, 46 minutes on Facebook! That’s triple the amount of time they spent on Google! Additionally Facebook has long past MySpace, yet artist continue to invest in their MySpace pages?

Given these facts, why are so many artist’s Facebook fan page lacking in any real content (other than a simple iLike music page). New changes to the Facebook API coming this month will make marketing on Facebook easier and more effective! The new posting API’s, the ability for apps to send messages to your inbox, the ability to get user’s email address and other important API changes will continue to make Facebook the platform of choice for music artists and labels!

I have a most interesting and unusual phone call a couple of weeks ago from a sales person at CareerBuilder. Ironically, the sales person had no idea who was trying to sell us the very same services we provided. According to him, CareerBuilder is the “first company with an exclusive contract to resell Facebook services”.  Little information about this “deal” exists on the web but there is probably some (little) truth to it. He said he was calling “on behalf of Facebook” selling “Facebook services”. According to this sales person (based out of their Chicago office), services start about about $1000 for “hosting and running your Facebook page” (by the way, Facebook actually hosts all Facebook content). Most interesting (and amusing) indeed. As background, CareerBuilder is owned by Gannett Co, Inc., Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company, and Microsoft Corp. (who is a close “partner” of and investor in Facebook).

What I found the most assuming was their email signature – I had no idea that could “buy” Facebook from a reseller!

With 1700 employees and 75% of them in sales and given the current economic climate, no wonder CareerBuilder is“Reselling Facebook”. I wonder how much it cost?