Google Checkout Gets a New Promotions Feature

Google has launched a new feature for Google Checkout, which allows merchants based in the US to create and run their own Checkout promotions at any time.

Users simply need to sign in to their Checkout merchant account, go to the "Tools" tab, and click the "Promotions" link to create a promotion. Google says the process takes less than a minute. Users can specify the date and time they'd like the promotion to run, and choose from different dollar-off discounts to offer their buyers.

When you run a Google Checkout promotion, the standard Checkout button on your site will automatically update to display the discount amount and cart minimum. AdWords advertisers will also have their standard Checkout badge that appears on their ads change to show the same information.

"These promotional badges have been introduced to enable shoppers who search on Google.com to easily identify and take advantage of promotional offers," says Google Checkout Specialist Gina Del Vecchio.

"Checkout promotions are a great way to attract new buyers, and we're excited to make this functionality more widely available," she adds.

Google recently made changes to its content restrictions for Google Checkout. The service now allows the sale of real estate rentals, timeshares, and day sight-seeing tours. Google has just announced a couple of other things that people in real estate might find particularly useful. For one, they have expanded upon their real estate features on Google Maps. Secondly, they are now offering a new type of ad to allow for comparisons between offers.

Have You Read This?

> Google Reduces Restictions on Google Checkout

> Google Introduces Multi-Client Accounts for Product Search

> Google Makes Online Stores Incredibly Simple

Facebook Puts Privacy Policy in Users’ Hands

Earlier this year, Facebook launched its new system of governance for the social network's policies. The system lets users comment and vote on proposed changes to governing policies. The company is now using this system with its Privacy Policy, and has made it available for review and comment.

"Our primary goals remain transparency and readability, which is why we've used plain language and included numerous examples to help illustrate our points," says Facebook's Elliot Schrage. He points to an example about how they explain users' options for modifying or deleting info or content. Here is the section in  the current policy:

When you update information, we usually keep a backup copy of the prior version for a reasonable period of time to enable reversion to the prior version of that information. ...
... Even after removal, copies of User Content may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or if other Users have copied or stored your User
Content. ...
Access and control over most personal information on Facebook is readily available through the profile editing tools. Facebook users may modify or delete any of their profile information at any time by logging into their account. Information will be updated immediately. Individuals who wish to deactivate their Facebook account may do so on the My Account page. Removed information may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time but will not be generally available to members of Facebook.

Here's how the section reads in the new proposed policy:

Viewing and editing your profile. You may change or delete your profile information at any time by going to your profile page and clicking "Edit My Profile." Information will be updated immediately. While you cannot delete your date of birth, you can use the setting on the info tab of your profile information page to hide all or part of it from other users. ...

Deactivating or deleting your account. If you want to stop using your account you may deactivate it or delete it. When you deactivate an account, no user will be able to see it, but it will not be deleted. We save your profile information (friends, photos, interests, etc.) in case you later decide to reactivate your account. Many users deactivate their accounts for temporary reasons and in doing so are asking us to maintain their information until they return to Facebook. You will still have the ability to reactivate your account and restore your profile in its entirety. When you delete an account, it is permanently deleted. You should only delete your account if you are certain you never want to reactivate it. You may deactivate your account on your account settings page or delete your account on this help page.

Limitations on removal. Even after you remove information from your profile or delete your account, copies of that information may remain viewable elsewhere to the extent it has been shared with others, it was otherwise distributed pursuant to your privacy settings, or it was copied or stored by other users. However, your name will no longer be associated with that information on Facebook. (For example, if you post something to another user's profile, and then you delete your account, that post may remain, but be attributed to an "Anonymous Facebook User.") Additionally, we may retain certain information to prevent identity theft and other misconduct even if deletion has been requested.

Backup copies. Removed and deleted information may persist in backup copies for up to 90 days, but will not be available to others.

Facebook has restructured the document with key points and links for jumping to different sections. They've added sections on current practices and a new concept around Facebook Ads.

Users can read more about Facebook's proposed changes to its policies here. The comment period ends at 12:00 p.m. PST on November 5. At that point, Facebook will review the feedback and update users on the steps that will follow.

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> Facebook Reminds Users How to Handle Death

> Facebook Poke Leads To An Actual Arrest

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Blogger Gets AdSense For Feeds Integration

Google launched AdSense for Feeds all the way back in 2005. Now the company is integrating it right into its Blogger property.

"One of the things our publishers have always asked for are ways to make it even easer to configure their blogs to work with FeedBurner and AdSense for Feeds," says Steve Olechowski on behalf of the AdSense for feeds and Blogger teams. We're happy to announce that Blogger users, with just a few clicks, are able to do both at the same time."

Users can can use AdSense for Feeds for Blogger the same way they set up AdSense on their blogs. Just go to the Blogger Dashboard and select "monetize". This gives the user options for configuring ads. If the user's blog is already connected to FeedBurner, you can confirm that the proper feed is being configured. AdSense for Feeds will pick the ad size automatically.

Users can view AdSense reports after setup to view feed revenue right from the Blogger Dashboard. You can of course see the reports in your AdSense account as well.

Google launched AdSense for Feedburner last year. This came just after Google closed down the Feedburner Ad Network.

Have You Read This?

> AdSense For RSS Feeds Launched

> Google's New Blogger Features

> Feedburner and Adsense Together at Last

Facebook, Foo Fighters To Pair Up Tonight

Call it "The Battle of the Bands and the Social Networks."  Following Weezer-MySpace and U2-YouTube match-ups in the past ten days, a third pairing will soon be added to the mix as a live Foo Fighters performance is scheduled to stream on Facebook this evening.

The free performance is supposed to start at 7 PM California time (the Foo Fighters will be using the Studio 606 complex in Northridge as a base of operation).  It's sure to be a big draw, considering that the band has over 821,000 Facebook fans.

Of course, in all honesty, the Foo Fighters and Facebook don't have much hope of matching U2 and YouTube.  Reports indicate that U2's Sunday night broadcast generated 10 million streams, which is an astonishing number.

Factor in U2's bigger fan base, plus the fact that this is a Friday, and again, no one should look for a repeat performance (in a manner of speaking).

Still, the spate of major concerts that've been streamed (toss in Hulu's coverage of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, if you like) seems to represent the start of a trend, and should mean a lot to music fans who don't feel like flying across the country and spending still more money on tickets.

Have You Read This?

> Hulu To Cover Music Festival, Include Facebook

> Google Aims To Make Finding Music Easier

> MySpace Introduces New Music Features

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