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.
Feeds
5540 items (5015 unread) in 3 feeds
Google
(325 unread)
-
Official Google Webmaster Central Blog (325 unread)
SEO
(4690 unread)
-
Emily Chang (347 unread)
-
Search Engine Roundtable
(4343 unread)
Search Engine Roundtable (6 unread)
-
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 26, 2010
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 11:00pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Search Forum Recap
-
Google: Different Algorithms Can Apply To Different Sites At Different Times
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 4:03pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Google Optimization
A Google Webmaster Help thread has a very revealing, at least to me, post from a Googler about how the Google Algorithm works.
Many people feel the Google Algorithm is a single, but large algorithm. But those who have been doing this for a while know that Google has many algorithms. When I covered the SEO 101 session, which is kinda funny, but I wanted to listen to Bruce Clay, it can be refreshing. I fed Bruce a question, that I knew he'd love to answer, about the Google algorithm. In short, I said Bing said they have over 1000 ranking factors, but Google said about 200 - what's up with that. Bruce answered it like the pro he is and explained that "for a specific query, Google may use 200 or so factors, but they likely have thousands. but they use different algorithms for different search intent." (paraphrasing)
That is spot on. For the first time that I've seen Google comment specifically about this.
JohnMu said in the Google Webmaster Help thread:
Various parts of our algorithms can apply to sites at different times, depending on what our algorithms find. While we initially rolled out this change earlier this year, the web changes, sites change, and with that, our algorithms will continually adapt to the current state on the web, on those sites. While it might be confusing to see these changes at the same time as this issue, they really aren't related, nor is this a general algorithm change (so if other sites have seen changes recently, it probably doesn't apply to them as well).
This was in response to why one webmaster was complaining he was hit by the May Day search quality algorithm change. John explained that when it first launched, the algorithm likely didn't apply to his site, but as sites change, the algorithm will go out looking for matches and when it does, you might get a special look by that algorithm.
Again, this is likely not new to many seniored SEOs but it is always gravy to find this in the forums by a Googler.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
-
New Beta FeedBurner Dashboard
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 3:56pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Tracking Conversion Measurements
Ever since Google bought FeedBurner I, and many others, have felt FeedBurner, as a service, has been slowly dying. Google proved us wrong yesterday when they announced a new beta version of the FeedBurner dashboard.
The new dashboard is hot, kinda looks like Google Analytics and so on.
Google said "the new interface provides real time stats for clicks, views, and podcast downloads, which means you can start seeing what content is drawing traffic from feed readers, Twitter, and other syndicated sources as it happens."
The new interface can be accessed at feedburner.google.com/gfb.
Here are some pictures:
Forum discussion at DigitalPoint Forums and Google Blogoscoped Forums.
-
Google Search Quality Improving Or Not?
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 3:48pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Google Search Engine
A WebmasterWorld thread has several complaints about Google's search quality. Tedster sets the tone with his post:
In our Google Updates and SERP Changes thread, scottsonline made this observation: "Day to day I won't find the same results in google and am actually bookmarking things again"
Me too - and rather than take the original thread into a side topic, I thought I'd start a dedicated thread.
This is one of the most troubling sign for me about Google in the present moment. For a long time I noticed that Google was so good I barely needed to use browser bookmarks at all. But now I definitely do, or else I lose track of information that I value. And no, I don't find that Bing is any better for this. I wish it were.
I don't know if it's the result of any one change or if it's a combination effect. But I do know that I feel like a valuable tool has been trashed.
Is anyone else in the same boat?
Then you see complaint after complaint. So I figured I'd run a poll below and ask you to take it and then bug everyone you know to take it.
Google Search Quality Is...online survey
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
-
Google Pushing Business Owners in Places To Use AdWords Via "Boost"
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 3:31pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Google AdWords
It is no wonder Google pulled the website URL tag option from Google Places. The same day Google announced the launch of a new ad promotion named Google Boost.
Google Boost is basically just a quick way for Google to get Google Places business owners to create AdWords ads and link those ads to their web site or Google Place page. Google explained:
Today, we’re announcing the availability of a new online advertising solution to help local businesses connect with potential customers in their area. Boost enables business owners to easily create online search ads from directly within their Google Places account. No ongoing management is needed after the initial set up, and this beta is currently available to select local businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. Boost ads are eligible to appear in the “Sponsored Links” section of Google.com and Google Maps search result pages.
Set it and forget it! :)
Here is a picture of the ad set up page:
Here is a picture of a boost ad with a Place tag:
Greg Sterling has some more information at Search Engine Land but keep in mind, it is only currently available for businesses in San Francisco, Houston and Chicago. To be notified when Boost comes to a city near you, fill out this form.
Forum discussion at DigitalPoint Forums.
-
Google Places Removes Website URL Tag Option
Posted: October 26th, 2010, 3:16pm CEST by rustybrick
Tags: Other Google Topics
Google has been promoting tags for Google Places to businesses for the past few months or so. Google said, "adding a tag to your Google Places listing allows you to highlight info that you want your customers to see." But Google is no longer allowing you to highlight your website URL, I guess because your customers don't want to see it (mocking Google here).
A Google Places Help thread has one complaint where Googler Brianna replied:
We're constantly refining our tag types any website was a previously offered tag type. We no longer offer this option as of today, 10/25/2010.
As we think about building new tag types, we're interested in what appeals to you about the website option, so please feel free to reply to this post. We will consider all of this feedback in our thinking.
We still hope you'll find another tag type from the ones currently offered that works for you!
Local search expert, Mike Blumenthal said the website URL tag option was "the most effective" tag available and he is sad to see it go.
Those who have the URL option already in place are able to continue to use it, but you can't change it, if you do, it will be lost. So those who are grandfathered in, stick with it - until Google snatches it away.
On a side note, it seems like some people are having issues with duplicate tags since yesterday.
Forum discussion at Google Places Help.