What to make of the newest new features in GA, Google Instant and Apple Ping (Small Business E-commerce Link Digest – November 12, 2010)

Everybody loves new features, don’t they? I know I do. But, what can they do for you? What’s the benefit of new features? What are the risks? This week, we’re taking a look at the people who take a look at three new features in the marketplace and what they mean to you. On with the links:

• Google as part of their Google Instant search results now offers Instant Previews, which let a customer view your site before ever clicking through. Fast Company thinks Instant Preview will change web design forever. I don’t know that anything ever changes anything forever. Still, it’s worth thinking about.
• Speaking of new features, I am totally loving Google Analytics’ Intelligence enhancements, which let you see what caused the changes that trigger Custom Alerts in the tool. This is about the coolest thing I’ve seen in Analytics yet. Decide for yourself what that says about me.
• Finally, while we’re looking at new features, take a look at this piece from e-Consultancy, which asks what you can learn from Apple’s “failed” Ping social network. The quotes are my way of saying I think it’s too soon to call Ping a failure. Still, e-Consultancy has a great point about the risks of trying to build your own social network.

Happy Friday, Big Thinkers. Can’t wait to see what’s new next week!

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