Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
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Daily Search Forum Recap: June 2, 2009
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 11:00pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Search Forum Recap
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Bing Hijacks IE6 Toolbar Search, Google Users Upset
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 7:41pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Microsoft MSN Search
There are several reports at Google Custom Search Help and Google Web Search Help with searchers who use Internet Explorer version 6 on their PC and are claiming that Bing has hijacked the search feature in the toolbar.
Several users are claiming that since Bing was launched, even though Google was their default search provider in IE, Bing has taken control. Even worse, when they try to change it back from Bing to Google, it does not work.
Here is one post:
Had Google set as my default browser. woke up this morning to discover that BING had hijacked this feature. cant change it via: search/customize on the IE tool bar. all I get is a windows live page saying Ooops.
There is no official explanation from either Microsoft or Google, as of yet. Matt Cutts of Google did tweet about the issue. A Microsoft individual did tweet back saying the "folks have escalated your concerns."
Forum discussion at Google Custom Search Help and Google Web Search Help.
Update: We have a statement from Microsoft on this issue:
We're aware of the issue with IE6 and Bing and are investigating a solution. This issue is not impacting IE7 or IE8 users. We respect user choice on search providers in IE and all browsers, and designed IE to enable that choice. We will provide an update soon on this issue, and we apologize for any inconvenience it has caused. In the meantime, we encourage customers to upgrade to IE8 here. Alternatively, Firefox users can install the add-in for Bing here.
Update: Microsoft emailed me again at 2:45am on June 3, 2009 to inform me the issue is now resolved with IE6. The issue was server side, so the fix was able to be pushed out remotely to all infected browsers.
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Google Dupes Search Parameters For Time Based Results
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 3:59pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Google Search Engine
When Google's new search options feature went live earlier last month, Google also changed how they handle time based queries.
Back in 2007 Google handled the time based query refinements by appending &as_qdr= to the URL, now Google is using &tbs=qdr: for the same refinement. Let me show you how it works:
To show the pages indexed by Google on this site for the past day, I use the site command and append the past 24 hours refinement.
- Old Way that still works: [www.google.com]
- New Way: [www.google.com]
So as you can see, both methods still work. Why duplicate the efforts? As Tedster said in a WebmasterWorld thread, it is possible that two different teams at Google worked on the various features and didn't consult each other.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Google Analytics To Add Bing to Search Engines Report
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 3:51pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Tracking Conversion Measurements
Bing launched a couple days early, yesterday morning and Google Analytics users are confused as to why it does not show up in the search engine reports. The day Google released Chrome, their new browser, Google Analytics supported the new browser immediately.
So why the delay with Bing? Well, Google didn't know exactly what or when it would be coming. It did come a couple days early and now that it is here, Google can begin programming that new search engine into the reports. I doubt Microsoft gave Google an early preview of the search engine and how the search referral strings would work. But now that it is live, Google can begin adding it to Google Analytics.
A Google Analytics Help thread has confirmation from a Googler, Anna, that this will be working shortly. Anna from the Google Analytics team said:
Our team is aware of this, and the required action will be taken soon!
As of this morning, it was not working, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was done shortly.
Forum discussion at Google Analytics Help.
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Google Forcing Advertisers into New AdWords Interface
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 3:42pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Google AdWords
In April Google began pushing advertisers to test the new AdWords interface. As it turns out, most advertisers dislike the new interface but that is not stopping Google from now forcing the new interface on some advertisers within 30 days.
Here is the email I received from Google a couple days ago:
In the coming weeks, we'll upgrade your AdWords account (Customer ID: 000-000-0000) to a new web interface designed to make campaign management faster and easier. You can try it now; log into your account to use the new interface immediately.
You'll have at least 30 days from the date of this email before you'll be required to use the new interface to manage your campaigns. During this time we'll continue to release additional features and make adjustments to the new interface based on advertiser feedback.
A WebmasterWorld thread is now discussing the topic of being forced into the new interface. The main issue that I see that advertisers are upset about is the requirement to scroll horizontally (left to right) to use the new interface. There are other quirks advertisers are upset about.
Ready or not, here it is coming and you better be ready for it. You can always use the AdWords Editor to bypass the web interface as much as possible. In fact, Google released a new AdWords Editor last night.
To prepare you for the new interface, Google created the following resources:
- Review the new interface microsite to get a quick overview of the changes and watch videos demonstrating the improvements: google.com/adwords/newinterface/
- Our "Getting Started Guide" will give you an overview of major new features and their benefits. You can download a PDF at: google.com/adwords/newinterface/new_interface_guide.pdf
- Wondering how to complete common AdWords tasks in the new interface? Visit our "How to" guide at: google.com/adwords/newinterface/standard/ads-and-keywords.html
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Is Bing Not Honoring NOODP Tag?
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 3:32pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Microsoft MSN Search
A WebmasterWorld thread reports that Microsoft's new search engine, Bing, which launched the other day, does not seem to support the NOODP tag.
The NOODP tag tells the search engine not to use the Open Directory Project's title or description for your search listing. Google, Yahoo and MSN Search supported the tag. The tag was introduced back in 2006 after webmasters became upset that the search engines were using some of those titles.
In any event, the WebmasterWorld thread claims Bing is now using titles and descriptions from DMOZ (ODP) even though the NOODP tag is on the page. I don't have any test cases I can remember off the top of my head to validate this, so I am leaving this open.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
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Some Users Seeing Yahoo's New New Home Page
Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 3:20pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Yahoo Search Engine
Yahoo is frequently testing new home pages. The most recent test was announced a few days ago. The new look looks like this:
Why do I bring it up now? Well, it appears some users are finally noticing the new home page in their daily browsing activities.
A WebmasterWorld thread has several people who said they now see the new home page. Personally, I don't see it. I am not sure if I like it over the current one. What about you?
Take our poll:
Do You Like The New Yahoo Home Page?(polls)
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.