Bing could replace Google as the default iPhone search engine. What impact might this have on mobile local search? …
On January 21, 2010, In SEO, by Search Engine Watch
Bing could replace Google as the default iPhone search engine. What impact might this have on mobile local search? …
On January 21, 2010, In SEO, by Nick Stamoulis
I just found this excellent video by Google’s Matt Cutts that has great and useful information about the state of Google’s search index. The video is about 25 minutes long, but take a break and give it a watch
I just found this excellent video by Google’s Matt Cutts that has great and useful information about the state of Google’s search index. The video is about 25 minutes long, but take a break and give it a watch 
On January 20, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
If you search for [Jesus] in Google Images you may notice that the first image has a picture of Jesus smoking a cigaret, with a can of beer in his hand. Here is a picture of the search result:
A searcher complained about this at the Google Web Search Help forums yesterday. So far, there has been no reply by anyone, including a Googler.
I doubt Google will remove the image result. These types of issues come up fairly frequently. The latest one was when Michelle Obama’s image was racist and Google did not remove it, but rather bought an ad explaining why the result was not removed. So I doubt Google will make changes to this image result.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
If you search for [Jesus] in Google Images you may notice that the first image has a picture of Jesus smoking a cigaret, with a can of beer in his hand. Here is a picture of the search result:
A searcher complained about this at the Google Web Search Help forums yesterday. So far, there has been no reply by anyone, including a Googler.
I doubt Google will remove the image result. These types of issues come up fairly frequently. The latest one was when Michelle Obama’s image was racist and Google did not remove it, but rather bought an ad explaining why the result was not removed. So I doubt Google will make changes to this image result.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
On January 20, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
For new content, Google often adds to the search result a little note of some sort that says how new the content is. Normally in the form of X minutes ago or X hours ago. I have some screen shots of how this works over here. But should Google always do this? Should Google show the date the last time that page was updated in the search results even if it means X years ago?
A Google Web Search Help thread is having discussion just about that feature request. Of course it can come in handy, to know which pages are more up-to-date than others, especially for product reviews and news related content. Google somewhat handles this for articles that contain the dates in them, here is an example:
Notice the dates in the snippets. But again, this is just the date of the article, not the last time the article was updated.
Do you think Google should be sharing this information in the search results?
Should Google Show “Last Updated” Info for ALL Search Results?(polls)
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
For new content, Google often adds to the search result a little note of some sort that says how new the content is. Normally in the form of X minutes ago or X hours ago. I have some screen shots of how this works over here. But should Google always do this? Should Google show the date the last time that page was updated in the search results even if it means X years ago?
A Google Web Search Help thread is having discussion just about that feature request. Of course it can come in handy, to know which pages are more up-to-date than others, especially for product reviews and news related content. Google somewhat handles this for articles that contain the dates in them, here is an example:
Notice the dates in the snippets. But again, this is just the date of the article, not the last time the article was updated.
Do you think Google should be sharing this information in the search results?
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
On January 20, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
In December, Google announced they will be personalizing all Google results by default. SEOs rightfully were a bit on edge after that announcement, but we did link to an old study on how personalized results impact rankings, overall.
The study has been revised and posted at the Huomah Blog. I won’t go through all the points, but the conclusion is that currently, the personalized changes are so minor that it is not worth SEOs freaking out about them. The overall conclusion of this study stated:
We shouldn’t be changing how we approach things ultimately… Above the fold is the real estate that’s prime (what else is new?). It may be the measuring that we will have to adapt. You will need to find ways to check rankings from a few locales and discern a mean average instead of a definitive placement.
It is worth while reading the whole report at the Huomah Blog.
Forum discussion at Sphinn.
In December, Google announced they will be personalizing all Google results by default. SEOs rightfully were a bit on edge after that announcement, but we did link to an old study on how personalized results impact rankings, overall.
The study has been revised and posted at the Huomah Blog. I won’t go through all the points, but the conclusion is that currently, the personalized changes are so minor that it is not worth SEOs freaking out about them. The overall conclusion of this study stated:
We shouldn’t be changing how we approach things ultimately… Above the fold is the real estate that’s prime (what else is new?). It may be the measuring that we will have to adapt. You will need to find ways to check rankings from a few locales and discern a mean average instead of a definitive placement.
It is worth while reading the whole report at the Huomah Blog.
Forum discussion at Sphinn.
On January 18, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
Every year, the search engines post special logos for Martin Luther King, Jr. This year is no different, we have logos from Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask.com, Dogpile and others. MLK, Martin Luther Kind, Jr needs no explanation. It is a legal US holiday today and a day celebrated by many around the world. Here are the logos:
Google’s MLK Logo:
Yahoo’s Flash MLK logo:
Bing’s MLK Theme:
Ask.com’s MLK Theme:
DogPile:
Search Engine Roundtable:
Also see the 2009 MLK logos and 2008 MLK logos for a bit of the history with these logos and doodles.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
Every year, the search engines post special logos for Martin Luther King, Jr. This year is no different, we have logos from Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask.com, Dogpile and others. MLK, Martin Luther Kind, Jr needs no explanation. It is a legal US holiday today and a day celebrated by many around the world. Here are the logos:
Google’s MLK Logo:
Yahoo’s Flash MLK logo:
Bing’s MLK Theme:
Ask.com’s MLK Theme:
DogPile:
Search Engine Roundtable:
Also see the 2008 MLK logos for a bit of the history with these logos and doodles.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
On January 15, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
This week we covered topics from SEO to topless Playboy girls. We discussed how to rank high in the Google real-time results with Twitter. We asked, when is Google launching the Caffeine index? Google added favorite icons to Webmaster Tools. Google added Fast Flip to Google News and we spotted a topless Playboy model on the home page. Google search spelling feature stole traffic from a web site. AdWords says your click through rate should be about 2 percent or higher. A new AdWords display URL policy requires subdomains for hosted domains. Google can transfer the campaigns you set up for clients, to their own accounts and leave you in the dust. If and when the Microsoft Yahoo deal goes through adCenter will take of Yahoo Search Marketing. Yahoo killed Shopping Search and outsourced it to PriceGrabber. Google changed home page fade in affect for the Haiti relief message. Google stood up to China and won’t censor their results, the world is supporting Google. That was this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed:
For the original iTunes version, click here or to see the YouTube version in higher quality, click play & hit “HD.”
Search Topics of Discussion:
Google SEO:
- Want To Rank High in Google’s Real Time Search? Get More Twitter Followers
- What’s The Hold Up With The Google Caffeine Index?
- I Now See Favicons in Google Webmaster Tools
- Google Adding Favicons to Webmaster Tools Site List?
Google Search:
- Google Adds News Flip to Google News Home Page
- Playboy on Google News Fast Flip
- The Google Search Screw: Google Knows Best
Google AdWords:
- Google AdWords Click Through Rates: 2% is Average But Double Digits is Great
- Google AdWords Display URLs for Hosted Domains Must Include Sub Domains
- Google Transfers AdWords Account from Consultant to Client in Dispute
adCenter & Yahoo:
- If Microsoft / Yahoo Deal Goes Through: adCenter Will Replace Yahoo Search Marketing
- Yahoo To Kill Shopping API & Outsource to PriceGrabber, Not Bing
Google & Haiti:
Google China:
Please do subscribe via iTunes or on your favorite RSS reader. Don’t forget to comment below with the right answer and good luck!
This week we covered topics from SEO to topless Playboy girls. We discussed how to rank high in the Google real-time results with Twitter. We asked, when is Google launching the Caffeine index? Google added favorite icons to Webmaster Tools. Google added Fast Flip to Google News and we spotted a topless Playboy model on the home page. Google search spelling feature stole traffic from a web site. AdWords says your click through rate should be about 2 percent or higher. A new AdWords display URL policy requires subdomains for hosted domains. Google can transfer the campaigns you set up for clients, to their own accounts and leave you in the dust. If and when the Microsoft Yahoo deal goes through adCenter will take of Yahoo Search Marketing. Yahoo killed Shopping Search and outsourced it to PriceGrabber. Google changed home page fade in affect for the Haiti relief message. Google stood up to China and won’t censor their results, the world is supporting Google. That was this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed:
For the original iTunes version, click here or to see the YouTube version in higher quality, click play & hit “HD.”
Search Topics of Discussion:
Google SEO:
- Want To Rank High in Google’s Real Time Search? Get More Twitter Followers
- What’s The Hold Up With The Google Caffeine Index?
- I Now See Favicons in Google Webmaster Tools
- Google Adding Favicons to Webmaster Tools Site List?
Google Search:
- Google Adds News Flip to Google News Home Page
- Playboy on Google News Fast Flip
- The Google Search Screw: Google Knows Best
Google AdWords:
- Google AdWords Click Through Rates: 2% is Average But Double Digits is Great
- Google AdWords Display URLs for Hosted Domains Must Include Sub Domains
- Google Transfers AdWords Account from Consultant to Client in Dispute
adCenter & Yahoo:
- If Microsoft / Yahoo Deal Goes Through: adCenter Will Replace Yahoo Search Marketing
- Yahoo To Kill Shopping API & Outsource to PriceGrabber, Not Bing
Google & Haiti:
Google China:
Please do subscribe via iTunes or on your favorite RSS reader. Don’t forget to comment below with the right answer and good luck!
On January 15, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
Imagine you have been in business, operating on the web for years now. Your name is unique and it ranks number one in the Google results, since it is unique. But then imagine a new site pops up that is similar to your name. Then soon after, Google decided that your name is really not what people want, instead, they want the other name.
In other words, they type in your business name and Google say – no no, you spelled it wrong, you want a competitor or another web site. Google then hides your web site and shows the competitor. How would you feel?
That is the story of a Google Webmaster Help thread. The owner of BrandFreek no longer comes up for a search on [brandfreek], instead, Google shows a result for BrandFreak and shows BrandFreak.com in the first spot. Here is a picture:
This can be pretty upsetting to the owner of the company and also hurt them financially. Google knows this. JohnMu at Google replied to the thread saying:
Thanks for posting! I’ll pass your feedback on to the team to review.
I am not sure if Google will change the behavior of this search in the future, but I think they should.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
Imagine you have been in business, operating on the web for years now. Your name is unique and it ranks number one in the Google results, since it is unique. But then imagine a new site pops up that is similar to your name. Then soon after, Google decided that your name is really not what people want, instead, they want the other name.
In other words, they type in your business name and Google say – no no, you spelled it wrong, you want a competitor or another web site. Google then hides your web site and shows the competitor. How would you feel?
That is the story of a Google Webmaster Help thread. The owner of BrandFreek no longer comes up for a search on [brandfreek], instead, Google shows a result for BrandFreak and shows BrandFreak.com in the first spot. Here is a picture:
This can be pretty upsetting to the owner of the company and also hurt them financially. Google knows this. JohnMu at Google replied to the thread saying:
Thanks for posting! I’ll pass your feedback on to the team to review.
I am not sure if Google will change the behavior of this search in the future, but I think they should.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
On January 15, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
Everyone knows about the horrible events that happened in Haiti this week. The world has come together to help out, and that includes Google. A few days ago, Google placed a link on their home page, giving people information on how they can help out. The link said, “Information, resources, and ways you can help survivors of the Haiti earthquake.” If clicked on, it took them google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/ with more information on how to help out.
But a day ago, that link was not included in the pre-fade portion of Google. By that I mean, Google’s home page shows the search box, logo and search buttons by default and then fades in the navigation links. Prior, Google faded in the information about the Haiti relief efforts but today, Google is showing this information on first load, prior to the rest of the page fading in. Here are pictures:
Pre-Fade:
Post-Fade:
Why did Google change this? Well, it was brought up in the Google Web Search Help forums by someone and Jaime from Google took notice. Jaime from Google said:
jeretik — thanks for bringing this up. We all share your concern for the victims of this disaster and I’m currently discussing the matter of the homepage link with the rest of the team.
This is a small but major change to the nature of Google’s fade in home page.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
Everyone knows about the horrible events that happened in Haiti this week. The world has come together to help out, and that includes Google. A few days ago, Google placed a link on their home page, giving people information on how they can help out. The link said, “Information, resources, and ways you can help survivors of the Haiti earthquake.” If clicked on, it took them google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/ with more information on how to help out.
But a day ago, that link was not included in the pre-fade portion of Google. By that I mean, Google’s home page shows the search box, logo and search buttons by default and then fades in the navigation links. Prior, Google faded in the information about the Haiti relief efforts but today, Google is showing this information on first load, prior to the rest of the page fading in. Here are pictures:
Pre-Fade:
Post-Fade:
Why did Google change this? Well, it was brought up in the Google Web Search Help forums by someone and Jaime from Google took notice. Jaime from Google said:
jeretik — thanks for bringing this up. We all share your concern for the victims of this disaster and I’m currently discussing the matter of the homepage link with the rest of the team.
This is a small but major change to the nature of Google’s fade in home page.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.
On January 14, 2010, In SEO, by rustybrick
A month ago, Google added real-time search results in the form of Tweets from Twitter and other real-time search related sources. Yesterday at Search Engine Land I covered an interview with Amit Singhal of Google via Technology Review. The interview explains how Google ranks those real-time search results – on some level.
Want to rank high in those Google real-time results? It seems like all you need is a lot of followers and you should be set.
From the interview:
“One user following another in social media is analogous to one page linking to another on the Web. Both are a form of recommendation,” Singhal says. “As high-quality pages link to another page on the Web, the quality of the linked-to page goes up. Likewise, in social media, as established users follow another user, the quality of the followed user goes up as well.”
Obviously, Google needs to figure out the value of the followers of followers, but that shouldn’t be too hard in this equation.
Another interesting point was in regards to the use of hashtags in Tweets. The interview wrote that hashtags may “serve as red flags to lower tweet quality and attract spam-like content.”
Of course, this does not mean anything you Tweet will show up in Google’s search results. For that, they need to be trending topics, and a good way to see what is trending is to look at Google Trends.
Honestly, there are some interesting thoughts in the comments on my post at Search Engine Land.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorldand Google Web Search Help.
A month ago, Google added real-time search results in the form of Tweets from Twitter and other real-time search related sources. Yesterday at Search Engine Land I covered an interview with Amit Singhal of Google via Technology Review. The interview explains how Google ranks those real-time search results – on some level.
Want to rank high in those Google real-time results? It seems like all you need is a lot of followers and you should be set.
From the interview:
“One user following another in social media is analogous to one page linking to another on the Web. Both are a form of recommendation,” Singhal says. “As high-quality pages link to another page on the Web, the quality of the linked-to page goes up. Likewise, in social media, as established users follow another user, the quality of the followed user goes up as well.”
Obviously, Google needs to figure out the value of the followers of followers, but that shouldn’t be too hard in this equation.
Another interesting point was in regards to the use of hashtags in Tweets. The interview wrote that hashtags may “serve as red flags to lower tweet quality and attract spam-like content.”
Of course, this does not mean anything you Tweet will show up in Google’s search results. For that, they need to be trending topics, and a good way to see what is trending is to look at Google Trends.
Honestly, there are some interesting thoughts in the comments on my post at Search Engine Land.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorldand Google Web Search Help.