Official Google Blog: Managing your reputation through search results

Managing your reputation through search results

A few years ago I couldn't wait to get married. Because I was in love, yeah, but more importantly, so that I could take my husband's name and people would stop getting that ridiculous picture from college as a top result when they searched for me on Google.

After a few years of working here, though, I've learned that you don't have to change your name just because it brings up some embarrassing search results. Below are some tips for "reputation management": influencing how you're perceived online, and what information is available relating to you.

Think twice

The first step in reputation management is preemptive: Think twice before putting your personal information online. Remember that although something might be appropriate for the context in which you're publishing it, search engines can make it very easy to find that information later, out of context, including by people who don't normally visit the site where you originally posted it. Translation: don't assume that just because your mom doesn't read your blog, she'll never see that post about the new tattoo you're hiding from her.

Tackle it at the source

If something you dislike has already been published, the next step is to try to remove it from the site where it's appearing. Rather than immediately contacting Google, it's important to first remove it from the site where it's being published. Google doesn't own the Internet; our search results simply reflect what's already out there on the web. Whether or not the content appears in Google's search results, people are still going to be able to access it — on the original site, through other search engines, through social networking sites, etc. — if you don't remove it from the original site. You need to tackle this at the source.

• If the content in question is on a site you own, easy — just remove it. It will naturally drop out of search results after we recrawl the page and discover the change.
• It's also often easy to remove content from sites you don't own if you put it there, such as photos you've uploaded, or content on your profile page.
• If you can't remove something yourself, you can contact the site's webmaster and ask them to remove the content or the page in question.

After you or the site's webmaster has removed or edited the page, you can expedite the removal of that content from Google using our URL removal tool.

Proactively publish information

Sometimes, however, you may not be able to get in touch with a site's webmaster, or they may refuse to take down the content in question. For example, if someone posts a negative review of your business on a restaurant review or consumer complaint site, that site might not be willing to remove the review. If you can't get the content removed from the original site, you probably won't be able to completely remove it from Google's search results, either. Instead, you can try to reduce its visibility in the search results by proactively publishing useful, positive information about yourself or your business. If you can get stuff that you want people to see to outperform the stuff you don't want them to see, you'll be able to reduce the amount of harm that that negative or embarrassing content can do to your reputation.

You can publish or encourage positive content in a variety of ways:

• Create a Google profile. When people search for your name, Google can display a link to your Google profile in our search results and people can click through to see whatever information you choose to publish in your profile.
• If a customer writes a negative review of your business, you could ask some of your other customers who are happy with your company to give a fuller picture of your business.
• If a blogger is publishing unflattering photos of you, take some pictures you prefer and publish them in a blog post or two.
• If a newspaper wrote an article about a court case that put you in a negative light, but which was subsequently ruled in your favor, you can ask them to update the article or publish a follow-up article about your exoneration. (This last one may seem far-fetched, but believe it or not, we've gotten multiple requests from people in this situation.)

Hope these tips have been helpful! Feel free to stop by our Web Search Forum and share your own advice or stories about how you manage your reputation online.

Posted by Susan Moskwa, Webmaster Trends Analyst

Google Retail Blog: The Secret Lives of Digital Mom

Google Retail Blog: The Secret Lives of Digital Mom

My mother always said that her three children were the most important thing in her life. Blanketed in the narcissism of childhood, I not only believed this to be true, but went several steps further - taking it as a given that my siblings and I were our mother's singular focus. Really, it wasn't until I reached college age that I fully understood that being a mom and having interests beyond one's children were not mutually exclusive. Having had this epiphany, its now clear that, like all moms, my mother worked hard to balance work, parenting, friends, and personal interests.

Mothers of young children today face similar challenges, however, to manage their priorities, they use the Internet in a way my mother never did - both for utility and as a communication platform. When it comes to their online activities, moms are not only moms, but also, individuals, with their own diverse sets of interests.

Digital Channels: Key at All Stages of the Purchasing Cycle

From a marketing standpoint, the "Mommy" segment has always been an attractive one. After all, moms shop not just for themselves, but for their entire household.

If you are looking to attract their attention, its important to note that as moms' media consumption patterns shift, the digital channel has become increasingly important for influencing their numerous buying choices. Many of the 34 million moms online [1] learn about products for the first time not via TV, but online. Then, looking to get more information, they turn to Web resources such as online reviews and search. Finally, when they are ready to purchase, they seek out online destinations to save time.

The Household's Chief Purchasing Officers

According to Experian Simmons' 2007-2008 Survey, 70% of online moms made a purchase on the Web in the past 12 months. Their top three purchase categories were apparel and accessories (36% made a purchase); books, music and video (31%); and toys and games (24%). It is true that moms often make online purchases for their kids and family, but they also routinely shop for themselves.

And, when it comes to spendng, moms are hardly using their childrens' Monopoly money. On the contrary, 38% of moms surveyed by Experian had they spent at least $200 on online purchases over the past year and 13% coughed up $1,000 or more.

Once moms do find something they like, their influence extends well beyond their own families. Nielsen found that women ages 25 to 54 with at least one child were not only highly likely to give advice about parenting/family issues (88% more likely than the typical Internet user), they were also more likely to share information about household and beauty/cosmetic products. [2]

Finding Moms in their Natural Habitats:

For marketers looking to reach this group, there are a multitude of ways to do so. Moms are both regular searchers and frequent visitors to parenting and family, news, weather and political content sites. As shown in the chart below, marketing to the digital mom is best down through web links (43.1%) and sponsored search results (41.9%). [3]

Note, however, if you are looking to reach my mother, her online activities are centered around her grown daughter.

You didn't expect the narcissism of youth to fade completely, did you?

[1] eMarketer, "Moms Online: More Influential Than Ever", May 2009
[2] Nielsen Online, "FallPlan2008", Oct 2008

[3] Experian Simmons, provided to eMarketer, April 2009; eMarketer calculations, May 2009. Note: ages 18+ with at least one child under 18 in household; used Internet from home or work in past seven days.

Posted by Yael Davidowitz-Neu, the Google Retail Team

Google plans Chrome-based Web operating system

Google to launch operating system

By Maggie Shiels Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley

Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but will eventually be used on PCs as well.

Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the middle of 2010.

"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," the firm said in its official blog.

The operating system, which will run on an open source license, was a "natural extension" of its Chrome browser, the firm said.

For Microsoft the news comes just months before it launches the latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.

'Back to basics'

"We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds," said the blog post written by Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, and Google's engineering director Linus Upson.

Both men said that "the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web" and that this OS is "our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".

To that end, the search giant said the new OS would go back to basics.

"We are completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates.

"It should just work," said Google.

Google already has an operating system for mobile phones called Android which can also be used to run on netbooks. Google Chrome OS will be aimed not just at laptops but also at desktops for those who spend a lot of time on the web.

"Truly competitive"

The announcement could dramatically change the market for operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player with around 90% share.

"This announcement is huge," said Rob Enderle, industry watcher and president of the Enderle Group.

"This is the first time we have had a truly competitive OS on the market in years. This is potentially disruptive and is the first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft.

"Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post web operating system, designed from the ground up, and reconceived for a web world," Mr Enderle told the BBC.

Last year Google launched the Chrome browser, which it said was designed for "people who live on the web - searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends."

Stephen Shankland at CNET said the move had widespread implications.

"One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and G-mail.

"Another: it opens new competition with Microsoft and, potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close attention to Google's moves."

Some commentators said Google's motivation in all this was pretty clear.

"One of Google's major goals is to take Microsoft out, to systematically destroy their hold on the market," said Mr Enderle.

"Google wants to eliminate Microsoft and it's a unique battle. The strategy is good. The big question is, will it work?"

At the popular blog, TechCrunch, MG Siegler said "Let's be clear on what this really is. This is Google dropping the mother of all bombs on its rival, Microsoft."

Microsoft releases Windows 7 later this year to replace Windows Vista and Windows XP which is eight years old.

The Redmond based company claims that 96% of netbooks run Windows to date.

Out of beta

In a separate announcement Google also revealed that many of its most popular applications had finally moved out of trial, or beta, phase.

Gmail, for example, has worn the beta tag for five years.

"We realise this situation puzzles some people, particularly those who subscribe to the traditional definition of beta software as being not yet ready for prime time," wrote Matthew Glotzbach, the director of product management in the official Google blog.

The decision to ditch the beta tag was taken because the apps had finally reached the "high bar" mark, he wrote.

More than 1.75 million companies use Google apps, according to the firm.

Authorize.net Is Down!

Fire brings down authorize.net services

The largest credit card and e-heck payment service on the web, Authorize.net, has been down for a while, which means that a lot of other services went down too, because they can’t accept payments anymore.

On July 2nd, 2009, 11pm, the entire web infrastructure for Authorize.net (main website, merchant gateway website, etc) went offline and stayed down all morning July 3, 2009. None of the over 200,000 merchants who use Authorize.net payment gateway were able to process credit cards. Authorize.net's toll free numbers were unavailable, as was much phone service in Seattle, and their toll numbers reported that they were "closed for the holiday" and voicemail was full. Other companies that have nearby offices have reported that there was a fire. Company used twitter to communicate on going updates, username authorizenet on twitter.

Authorize.net's Web site was down for hours. It was back up early Friday afternoon and appeared to be working. The company posted updates on Twitter Twitter throughout the day. At about 11 a.m. Friday it said its merchant interface was working again

"may be slow to access, but it is up."

Verizon Communications Inc. spokesman Jon Davies said the company's DSL service in the Seattle area was temporarily disrupted. The Web site for Adhost, a Seattle based Web-hosting company, was down as well and phone service to the company was out. Microsoft's new Bing Travel service was also knocked offline by the blaze. The company said it expected things to be working again by about 5 p.m. Friday. The small fire started in the basement of Fisher Plaza at an electrical vault - the section of the building where city power lines meet the building's transformers, said Seattle City Light spokesman Scott Thomsen. Thomsen said that it appears equipment failure on the part of the customer caused the fire.

Best in Blogs:

Measuring the MJ Aftershock; Franken Rising; Sanford Falling

Top Stories for the Week of June 29- July 3, 2009

There are plenty of ways to measure the impact of Michael Jackson. The extreme strain that news of his death put on the Internet is just the latest. "Web Collapses Under the Weight of Michael Jackson's Death," TechCrunch reported. WhatGoogle mistook for a Denial of Service attack amid an epic spike in searches related to Michael Jackson was "a different kind of DoS: the Death of Superstar," says Changing Way. Google's chart of MJ-related queries on the day of his hospitalization and death looks like a tidal wave; the search service even snubbed some MJ news seekers, saying their frenzy resembled the persistence of malicious bot-a-matons. Yahoo News set an all-time record with 16.4 million visitors, beating the old record of 15.1 million set last election day, says SearchEngineLand. The Yahoo report, "Michael Jackson rushed to hospital," was the highest clicking story in Yahoo's history with "a whopping 800,000 clicks within 10 minutes" says Business Insider. Twitter was besieged. Nine of the 10 trending topics on Twitter were MJ-related. SEOMozBlog has a tick-tock-timeline of the online deluge, which blew up last Thursday when TMZ.com went live with the breaking news. An email and Twitter link to TMZ hit a high of almost 42 clicks a second. MeanwhileCover Awards has been gathering as many MJ magazine covers as it can find.

Jezebel assembled breaking news links of immediate reactions from celebrities and early speculation about drugs, money and more. HuffPorounds up photos of fans in mourning and tribute. Facebook reported a tripling of status updates. Wikipedia froze (uh, "temporarily protected") its Michael Jackson page amid an "edit-and-delete-the-edits scrum" by citizen-editors, says Digital Media. SearchEngineLand says "the final word about this extraordinary day belongs to AOL, whose AIM messaging service was knocked offline for 40 minutes Thursday." Now the grim aftermath unwinds. "The DEA and LAPD are looking into MJ's doctors and their drug prescription habits," reports Popsquire: "This is starting to look more and more like a criminal investigation." Initial reports that Jackson may have bequeathed the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney are in doubt. Young, Black & Fabulous says Michael's will from 2002 has been officially filed, and he expressly said his cash should go to provide for his three children, for whom he designated his mother Katherine as guardian—with Diana Ross as a backup.

In other news—yes, there's other news—the recount in Minnesota is official, and Al Franken has become the first former Saturday Night Live writer to join the U.S. Senate. Alternate headline: 'Blogger trapped in a nightmare from which he can't wake up,' quips the skeptical Hot Air. Rush Limbaugh compared Franken's win to Ahmadinejad's recount victory in Iran—"right on cue," says Crooks and Liars. TPM culls videos of the reactions on Fox News (another past target of Franken comedy) including the suggestion that Franken is "barely sane if you read his books." And TNR pulls together videos of memorable moments from Franken's life. Now what? "Is the Al Franken Decade on the horizon?" asks Rabble.ca. (Don't remember that classic SNL bit? TV Eye has the text here.) Twitter users in Minnesota have varying views on Franken, Breaking Tweets shows. Tapped notes that the so-called Democratic supermajority of 60 votes Senate votes "has cracks... Though no one wants to say it, it is not clear that Sen. Ted Kennedy will ever vote again in the Senate, given his medical condition," and 91-year-old Robert Byrd "remains in delicate health." At least Franken's ascendency to the Senate "will provide the GOPers with their central talking point for the 2010 and 2012 Congressional races," says Daily Kos.

And finally, the Mark Sanford Saga continues too, as the infidel South Carolina Governor dissembles and disintegrates following his admission of an extramarital affair. Says Politics Daily: "It's hard to believe that anybody could have so quickly toppled John Edwards as the modern politician with the highest "ick" factor. But Sanford did it with a single quote: ‘This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story,' Sanford told the AP. ‘A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day.'" Balloon Juice observes:"In the last 48 hours Sanford has shot himself in the foot with the ‘I'm trying to fall back in love with my wife' remark, and then reloaded and shot his other foot with the ‘I met my soul mate' nonsense, and he appears to be out of feet and aiming at his head next." "Tick, tick, tick," says Michelle Malkin, "Someone needs to stage an intervention, stat." Despite everything, and the nation's reigning Luv Guv might have a book deal – "outlining his policy beliefs...a manifesto about fiscal conservatism"—says HuffPo.

Phew. Happy Independence Day from the team at Blogs.com!

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Franken victory gives Obama boost in Senate!

Recount Day 238: Coleman quits; Goshdarnit Al Franken's a senator

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5-0 today that Democrat Al Franken won the 2.9 million vote Senate election there by a landslide 312 votes. Al Franken has defeated incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman in the race to fill Minnesota's second U.S. Senate seat. The victory comes months after voters cast their ballots and arrives in the form of a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling. In a 5-0 decision, the court ruled in favor of Franken, who has battled to unseat Coleman ever since a slim victory on election night was cast into doubt by a series of drawn out recount claims and voter irregularity allegations.


More than 2.9 million Minnesotans voted in the November general election, including approximately 300,000 absentee ballots. The first unofficial tally gave Coleman a 206 vote victory. However, under state law, such a slim majority must be manually recounted. Included in the recount were several hundred absentee ballots as well as ballots disputed by Coleman's lawyers. The tally from a recount gave Franken a 225 vote majority and an upset win.

"the trial court did not err when it included in the final election tally the election day returns of a precinct in which some ballots were lost before the manual recount. After a trial, the three-judge trial court we appointed to hear the election contest issued its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment, concluding that Franken received 312 more legally cast votes than Coleman... Because we conclude that appellants have not shown that the trial court's findings of fact are clearly erroneous or that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion, we affirm"

It is unknown if Coleman will appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, or if he will concede, allowing the state to seat a second senator after several months of vacancy.

The Life and Death of Michael Jackson

ABC, NBC & CBS News to air Michael Jackson specials tonight

Farrah Fawcett had about four hours of headlines to herself on Thursday before Michael Jackson kicked her off the metaphorical front page. And both overshadowed Ed McMahon, who died on Tuesday.

They say celebrity deaths come in threes, but rarely do they come in such close proximity. The cancer-related deaths of former “Tonight Show” sidekick McMahon and former “Charlie’s Angel” Fawcett came as little shock, but Jackson’s was perhaps the most stunning celebrity exit since his friend Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997.

Speaking of the so-called “People’s princess,” whose death basically paralyzed Britain and large parts of the world for weeks, she stole some of the thunder of Mother Teresa, who died five days later. And forget about conductor Georg Solti, who had the misfortune to die on the same day as the saint-in-waiting.

Jackson was pronounced dead at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The former president died on June 5, 2004, and the lengthy mourning period enveloped the death of Ray Charles five days later.

Speaking of presidents, John F. Kennedy was assassinated on the same day in 1963 that “Brave New World” author Aldous Huxley and “Chronicles of Narnia” author C.S. Lewis died.

A would-be president, Barry Goldwater, died of a stroke in 1998. But people may have been focused on the murder of former “Saturday Night Live” comic Phil Hartman at the hands of his wife the day before.

In 2003, Hollywood old-timers Katharine Hepburn and Buddy Hackett died on the same day. But sometimes, it’s a toss-up who overshadows whom. British rocker Marc Bolan of T. Rex was killed in a 1977 car crash on the same day that opera diva Maria Callas died of a heart attack.

Michael Jackson overshadows Farrah Fawcett on a sad day Reuters Blogs

Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett Both Die on the Same Day AmericaJR.com

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Mom all died on June 25th Daily Kos

Clovis News Journal - Examiner.com

Happy Father's Day

Barack Obama's Official Fathers Day Proclamation

On Father's Day, we pay tribute to the loving and caring fathers who are strengthening their families and country.

A PROCLAMATION FOR FATHER'S DAY, 2009, By President Barack Obama

The journey of fatherhood provides unique and lasting joys. Cradling a baby in his arms, a father experiences the miracle of life and an unbreakable bond. Fathers imagine a world of possibilities awaiting their children and contemplate the privilege of helping them reach that expanse of opportunity.

Happy Father's Day, I’m writing to share a special video of Barack talking about fatherhood, but first I want to share some thoughts of my own. My father, Frasier Robinson, was the rock of our family. Although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion and our hero. He worked tirelessly through good days and bad to make sure my brother and I had every opportunity he didn't -- to go to college and pursue our dreams. His example continues to guide me every day. Barack didn't have my good fortune -- his father left when he was just two years old. But he has always been determined to give our daughters what he never had, and he values being a good father more than any other accomplishment in his life. On Friday, Barack brought some men (and a bunch of kids!) to the White House to talk about fatherhood. Check out a video of the event: We all know the remarkable impact fathers can have in our children's lives. So today, on this 100th anniversary of Father's Day, take a moment to celebrate responsible fatherhood and the men who've had the courage to step up, be there for our families, and provide our children with the guidance, love and support they need to fulfill their dreams. Thanks, Michelle

We also express special gratitude to fathers who serve in the United States Armed Forces for the sacrifices they and their families make every day.

Happy Father's Day Examiner.com

A Father's Day salute: Where would sports be without its Pop stars? Fort Worth Star Telegram

Father's Day Beaufort Observer

TheInsider.com - Flattrack.com

Auto layoffs push Indiana jobless rate to 10.6%

Indiana unemployment tops 10%

Indiana's unemployment rate rose to 10.6% in May and Howard County jumped to 19.3% after auto industry furloughs pushed the Kokomo area past northern Indiana as the most-jobless region of the state.

Fifty-nine of Indiana's 92 counties recorded preliminary unemployment figures of 10% or higher as the statewide rate doubled from 5.3% in May 2008 and moved higher again after having edged downward last month, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Friday.

The national jobless rate in May was 9.4%

Indiana's auto industry job losses in May were expected

Indiana's auto industry job losses in May were expected and could soon spread to related industries, said Teresa Voors, the state workforce development commissioner

"Indiana may see the ripple effect over the next few months as suppliers, dealerships and other service providers adjust to the new business models of the domestic auto companies."

Less than half as many manufacturing workers in Howard County and adjacent Tipton County had jobs in May when compared to the same month a year earlier, state data showed.

Much of that loss came from furloughs at four Chrysler plants with about 5,000 workers that have been shut down as part of the automaker's bankruptcy proceedings

But Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight sounded optimistic.

"We have gotten word here locally they are starting to call people back."

Tipton County's jobless rate of 16.2% was sixth highest in the state, right behind the 16.6% rate posted by Miami County, just north of Kokomo. Among Indiana cities of at least 25,000 people, preliminary data showed Kokomo had the highest unemployment rate in May at 19.5%, nearly one in every five workers, followed by Elkhart at 19.2%. Goodnight, a lifelong Kokomo resident and mayor for the past 18 months, said there's always been talk of broadening the manufacturing center's economy. The current downturn has motivated local leaders to find other industries that can employ the area's idled engineers, technicians and other workers.

"It's kind of been a positive to show people why we need to diversify. We're probably as aggressive as anyone out there."

Northern counties home to Indiana's devastated RV manufacturing industry continued to limp along in May with high-double-digit unemployment. Elkhart County's 17.5% rate was second highest in the state, followed by Noble County at 17.3% and LaGrange County at 16.6%. LaGrange's rate fell a full percentage point from a revised 17.6% rate in April.

Daviess County had the state's lowest unemployment

Southern Indiana's Daviess County had the state's lowest unemployment in May at 5.5%, followed by Monroe County, Bloomington, at 6.4%.
Auto layoffs push Indiana jobless rate to 10.6 pct Forbes

Clark, Floyd unemployment lower than most counties Evening News and Tribune

Jobless rate in state expected to climb higher Indianapolis Star

Journal and Courier - Bizjournals.com

Welcome the World of Warcraft Midsummer Fire Festival!

Midsummer is one of the four solar holidays, and is considered the turning point at which summer reaches its height and the sun shines longest. Among the Wiccan sabbats, Midsummer is preceded by Beltane, and followed by Lammas or Lugnasadh. Some traditions call the festival "Litha", a name occurring in Bede's "Reckoning of Time", which preserves a list of the Anglo-Saxon names for the twelve months. Ærra Liða roughly corresponds to June in our calendar, and Æfterra Liða to July. Bede writes that "Litha means 'gentle' or 'navigable', because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea. With it comes a lot of fun events and enjoyment for everyone. Bonfires will be lit across Azeroth and Outland that players will be able to visit and honor or desecrate the flames. You will also be able to venture into Slave Pens in Zangarmash's Coilfang Reservoir and try your hand at defeating Ahune, the Frost Lord, who has some interesting items that he drops including a pet! This year the holiday begins on Sunday

With the summer solstice date falling on June 21st, Blizzard is coming up with World of Warcraft holiday event, called Midsummer Fire Festival, starting June 21st till July 4th.

The amusing flame desecration game and the amazingly frustrating torch are making a comeback from the previous years events in the Midsummer Fire Festival. One remarkable inclusion will be the Ahune, the Frost Lord. Death is again getting interesting with StarCraft II. Burning Blossoms are the currency used for the Midsummer Fire Festival used for purchasing seasonal rewards. Dancing around the ribbon pole, tossing the torch, catching the torch and honoring the fire are some of the events. The festival is about merriment and the hottest season of the year is made significant by lighting bonfires all over. Be open to the fact that you would all be sweating when you return from the festival. Be prepared to pick the festival mug and get ready to toast for the start of the festival. The ending of the event is also exceptional as the sky is set alight.

The summer solstice day is also marked in Scandinavian culture as a day for celebrations and festivals. In Norway the day is marked with families visiting each other and gathering to listen to music, tell stories, eat, drink, dance and celebrate the longest day of the year.

'Neda' becomes rallying cry for Iranian protests

A 40 second video clip of an Iranian girl, named “Neda,” the Farsi word for voice, allegedly shot dead by a Basij soldier has been circulating the web as of Saturday. Her shooting comes as Iran faces demonstrations in the magnitude not seen since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

The footage shows the girl, with a singe bullet wound in her chest, lying on her back as her family tries to unsuccessful save her. Blood is first seen leaving her chest, and later flowing from her mouth and nose as her face is eventually left covered in blood. 2 minutes later she was pronounced dead.

"RIP NEDA, The World cries seeing your last breath, you didn't die in vain. We remember you."

That post on Twitter came from a man who identified himself as an American guitarist in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amid the hundreds of images and videos of Saturday's brutal crackdown on protesters in Iran that flooded the Internet, it was the graphic video showing the death of a young woman that touched a nerve among those following the events in Tehran for more than a week.

Like most of the information coming out of Tehran, it is impossible to verify her name, Neda, or the circumstances of her apparent death, captured close-up on a bystander's camera.

CNN ran a pixilated version of the video, which was posted on YouTube. It shows a woman in jeans and white sneakers collapsed on the street, as the person with the camera -- most likely from a cell phone -- runs toward her and focuses on her face.

One blogger posted that Neda was protesting with her father in Tehran when pro-government Basiji militia opened fire and shot her in the heart.

"The final moments of her tender young life leaked into the pavement of Karegeh Street today, captured by cell phone cameras," the unnamed blogger posted on Newsvine.com. "And not long after, took on new life, flickering across computer screens around the world on YouTube, and even CNN." iReport.com: Share images from Iran

People on Twitter starting forming a discussion group with the "hashtag" .neda to post their comments about her death and media coverage of the killing, as well. Watch how online community is following Iranian protests »

It became one of the top "trending topics" on Twitter by Saturday evening, early Sunday Tehran time.

"Neda, ojala que tu muerte no sea en vano," one poster tweeted. "Neda, I hope that your death is not in vain."