Google + Twitter = Slam Dunk

Reports surfaced last week that Google and Twitter were in late-stage talks to tie the knot. The search engine buying the social media microblogging site will be good news for marketers, largely because:

• Twitter has the pulse on search to deliver the world's news.
• While it's a great communications tool for the average person, the power for marketers lies in its real-time search capabilities

Twitter Search has the potential to become a crucial tool for marketers in both understanding what's being said about their brands online, as well as for timely communication with their customers

A Google acquisition would likely only accelerate its importance to marketers because Google can give Twitter what it most desperately needs right now, which is the servers to power it, and a revenue model."

Google has begun offering marketers ads that stream most recent tweets across the Google AdSense Network. Still, the news of a possible acquisition sent tweets flying across the Twitter network.

Facebook offered about $500 Million for Twitter last year. While some believe that Google's bid could come in higher, others believe challenges will likely hinder any type of deal.

Case in point: Google paid $1.65 billion for YouTube, and as of today has generated a mere pittance in revenue. As a result, Google will have a difficult time proving to investors it can make money from the site.

Unique visitors to Twitter reached 7 million in February 2009, compared with 475,000 during the same month in the prior year, making it the fastest-growing site in the Member Communities category for the month, according to Nielsen Online.