by Marc Elison
Posted on December 17, 2009
Over the past week or so Google has released a slew of updates to its search operation. Some of these are somewhat controversial (personalised search) and some are just aesthetic changes (minimalist homepage) but Google seems to have ramped up their refinement process for the coming festive season. Here are some of the new updates you'll be sure to encounter:
Google Personalised Search
From around the beginning of December, Google will start tailoring your search results based on previous browsing history, whether you are logged into your Google account or not(This review assumes that you are logged out). In order to allay privacy concerns you can opt out if you wish but most people using Google will be using personalised search by default. Google accomplishes this finding your favored sites (indicated by which ones you most often click through to) and ranking sites from that brand or theme higher in your particular search results. This means Dymocks might be top of the SER's for the keyword 'books' while for another person the same search will yield Angus & Robertson as the top positioned site. This doesn't mean the other ranking factors are simply ignored however; they are simply used in conjunction with the personalised result factors. With this version of personalised search ( signed out of Google account), Google can only guess at your preference from what you click on, clicks are what your personalised search is based on, not search history or surfing habits.
Now you may think this has doom and gloom implications for search engine optimisation, well it doesn't, not yet anyway. First, Google is going to have to collect huge amounts of click data in order to understand and use your preferences within the SERPS. Good structured pages with terrific content, correctly used HTML attributes and links will still play the majority role in the ranking of sites, whether personalised search takes effect or not. We're not sure how much weighting the personalised search factor will have within the entire Google algorithm, but I wouldn't be surprised if people get near identical SERPS, regardless of their click history and habits. I have a feeling they may use the old Google 80/20 rule when implementing personalised search, i.e. 8 'normal results' and 2 results impacted on by personalised search for each SERP.
Google's New Search Page
Now unlike some of the other tweaks and updates that Google has implemented over the past month or so this is pretty much a purely aesthetic change. When the search page is first loaded, you only see the logo, search box and the search buttons. When you move your mouse the rest of the search page 'fades in'. This is something that Google has been testing for a while, for example it only worked on Chrome for a while and then periodically for other browsers. The only reason I can think of for this change is to funnel more people to start searching right away, rather than exploring the other links on the page.
Google Real-Time results
Google also announced that Google Real Time search has been rolled out. This feature is going to be rolled out in an incremental process over the next few weeks. Essentially Google is going to start indexing tweets, Facebook status updates (where made publicly visible by the Facebook user and this feature will be rolled out at a later stage) and other forms of real-time information. According to Google, they are processing over 'a billion documents a day' from the real-time web. In order to activate this feature you need to click on the show options link just above the results. This opens a whole heap of options, in order to activate the Google real-time results click on latest link. Then just sit back and watch new results blend into the top of your SERPS.
Now with the advent of Twitter, 'real-time' seems to be all the rage, with everybody wanting instant gratification. I think the problem Google and the other search engines may be at the juxtaposition of real-time and relevancy. How do you rank a tweet in terms of relevancy to the subject? Is something that is 'real-time' better than something that is more relevant? Well, I don't have answers to these questions but with a couple thousand PHD's just sitting around thinking up answers to these questions I'm sure the big G has it covered. The following sources of real-time information will be indexed:
· Facebook
· MySpace
· FriendFeed
· Jaiku
· Identi.ca
· Twitter
· Fresh press releases or blog posts
Was this feature an absolute necessity for Google to survive? No, but it's a 'nice to have' feature, as for me, it's easier to keep up with my UEFA champions league scores.
Google Mobile Updates
Google announced a whole raft of search capabilities for mobile phones (and in particular android enabled phones). In terms of Google Voice search, Japanese, Mandarin and English are all now supported as well as several more phone models, including; Blackberries, Android powered mobiles and Nokia's.
Search By location is a really interesting feature. According to the Google announcement, people with Google Maps on Android 1.6+ devices, can just press on the map for an extended period and ten of the closest points of interest (restaurants, shops etc) will be revealed to you. Nice feature, especially if you are bored and stuck somewhere for an extended period.
Google Goggles
Now this is a feature that really interests me, If Google can pull it off correctly it is going to be massive! This feature is currently a labs product that only users of Android 1.6+ devices can use. Essentially, you take a picture of an object, send it to Google and if they are able to recognise the object it returns relevant search results regarding the object. According to Google, Goggles will recognise the following objects:
· Books
· DVDs
· Landmarks
· Logos
· Artwork
· Businesses
· Products
· Barcodes
Google has also released the following tips for making Goggles work better:
* Take photos in areas with good lighting.
* Zoom in as much as possible.
* Use your phone in "left landscape" orientation (with your right thumb pressing the shutter).
* Hold your hands steady, and use the on-screen shutter button.
Imagine the capabilities, you are in a foreign country, you are doing the touristy/sightseeing thing, you want more information on an odd relic you are perusing so you take a picture and voila, all the information right on your mobile, very cool.
There are some other features like Google living stories, news rendered in a new and dynamic way. Updates to the Google Web Kit, including ways to speed up web apps. Loading time/web site performance is slated to be a big indicator in terms of search results in 2010. Martin has written a great post on Google and speed. As a result of the speed factor, Google has added another tool in Google Webmaster Tools where you can check the performance of your site. Google has also announced that extensions for Chrome are also now available. Wow, Google has been busy and I for one am looking forward to playing around with these news features and figuring out how they benefit me and the SEO I perform.
Google Personalised Search
From around the beginning of December, Google will start tailoring your search results based on previous browsing history, whether you are logged into your Google account or not(This review assumes that you are logged out). In order to allay privacy concerns you can opt out if you wish but most people using Google will be using personalised search by default. Google accomplishes this finding your favored sites (indicated by which ones you most often click through to) and ranking sites from that brand or theme higher in your particular search results. This means Dymocks might be top of the SER's for the keyword 'books' while for another person the same search will yield Angus & Robertson as the top positioned site. This doesn't mean the other ranking factors are simply ignored however; they are simply used in conjunction with the personalised result factors. With this version of personalised search ( signed out of Google account), Google can only guess at your preference from what you click on, clicks are what your personalised search is based on, not search history or surfing habits.
Now you may think this has doom and gloom implications for search engine optimisation, well it doesn't, not yet anyway. First, Google is going to have to collect huge amounts of click data in order to understand and use your preferences within the SERPS. Good structured pages with terrific content, correctly used HTML attributes and links will still play the majority role in the ranking of sites, whether personalised search takes effect or not. We're not sure how much weighting the personalised search factor will have within the entire Google algorithm, but I wouldn't be surprised if people get near identical SERPS, regardless of their click history and habits. I have a feeling they may use the old Google 80/20 rule when implementing personalised search, i.e. 8 'normal results' and 2 results impacted on by personalised search for each SERP.
Google's New Search Page
Now unlike some of the other tweaks and updates that Google has implemented over the past month or so this is pretty much a purely aesthetic change. When the search page is first loaded, you only see the logo, search box and the search buttons. When you move your mouse the rest of the search page 'fades in'. This is something that Google has been testing for a while, for example it only worked on Chrome for a while and then periodically for other browsers. The only reason I can think of for this change is to funnel more people to start searching right away, rather than exploring the other links on the page.
Google Real-Time results
Google also announced that Google Real Time search has been rolled out. This feature is going to be rolled out in an incremental process over the next few weeks. Essentially Google is going to start indexing tweets, Facebook status updates (where made publicly visible by the Facebook user and this feature will be rolled out at a later stage) and other forms of real-time information. According to Google, they are processing over 'a billion documents a day' from the real-time web. In order to activate this feature you need to click on the show options link just above the results. This opens a whole heap of options, in order to activate the Google real-time results click on latest link. Then just sit back and watch new results blend into the top of your SERPS.
Now with the advent of Twitter, 'real-time' seems to be all the rage, with everybody wanting instant gratification. I think the problem Google and the other search engines may be at the juxtaposition of real-time and relevancy. How do you rank a tweet in terms of relevancy to the subject? Is something that is 'real-time' better than something that is more relevant? Well, I don't have answers to these questions but with a couple thousand PHD's just sitting around thinking up answers to these questions I'm sure the big G has it covered. The following sources of real-time information will be indexed:
· MySpace
· FriendFeed
· Jaiku
· Identi.ca
· Fresh press releases or blog posts
Was this feature an absolute necessity for Google to survive? No, but it's a 'nice to have' feature, as for me, it's easier to keep up with my UEFA champions league scores.
Google Mobile Updates
Google announced a whole raft of search capabilities for mobile phones (and in particular android enabled phones). In terms of Google Voice search, Japanese, Mandarin and English are all now supported as well as several more phone models, including; Blackberries, Android powered mobiles and Nokia's.
Search By location is a really interesting feature. According to the Google announcement, people with Google Maps on Android 1.6+ devices, can just press on the map for an extended period and ten of the closest points of interest (restaurants, shops etc) will be revealed to you. Nice feature, especially if you are bored and stuck somewhere for an extended period.
Google Goggles
Now this is a feature that really interests me, If Google can pull it off correctly it is going to be massive! This feature is currently a labs product that only users of Android 1.6+ devices can use. Essentially, you take a picture of an object, send it to Google and if they are able to recognise the object it returns relevant search results regarding the object. According to Google, Goggles will recognise the following objects:
· Books
· DVDs
· Landmarks
· Logos
· Artwork
· Businesses
· Products
· Barcodes
Google has also released the following tips for making Goggles work better:
* Take photos in areas with good lighting.
* Zoom in as much as possible.
* Use your phone in "left landscape" orientation (with your right thumb pressing the shutter).
* Hold your hands steady, and use the on-screen shutter button.
Imagine the capabilities, you are in a foreign country, you are doing the touristy/sightseeing thing, you want more information on an odd relic you are perusing so you take a picture and voila, all the information right on your mobile, very cool.
There are some other features like Google living stories, news rendered in a new and dynamic way. Updates to the Google Web Kit, including ways to speed up web apps. Loading time/web site performance is slated to be a big indicator in terms of search results in 2010. Martin has written a great post on Google and speed. As a result of the speed factor, Google has added another tool in Google Webmaster Tools where you can check the performance of your site. Google has also announced that extensions for Chrome are also now available. Wow, Google has been busy and I for one am looking forward to playing around with these news features and figuring out how they benefit me and the SEO I perform.
Marc Elison is a Search Engine Optimisation consultant with Bruce Clay Australia. Bruce Clay Australia is part of Bruce Clay, Inc a leading provider of Internet marketing services, with an emphasis on SEO. As developers of the SEOToolSet™, Search Engine Relationship Chart®, Search Engine Optimisation Code of Ethics, and many optimisation technologies, Bruce Clay, Inc. is one of the best known and most reputable SEO Firms in the world.
Print This Article|
Send To A Friend|
RSS Feeds|Read More Related ArticlesCOMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE...
Post them now in our forums for quick, helpful advice from thousands of members!
Google Buzz - How Will it Affect Local SEO?
Should You Be Copyrighting Your Copywriting?
Is Google Personalized Search Results Giving You a Case of the Ups and Downs?
Should You Be Copyrighting Your Copywriting?
Is Google Personalized Search Results Giving You a Case of the Ups and Downs?
SEO Articles
Internet Marketing Articles
Development Articles
General Articles
And also in our Archives
Internet Marketing Articles
Development Articles
General Articles
And also in our Archives
Drive traffic to your business and get recognized as an industry leader by sharing your knowledge on Site-Reference. Authors are given a wide range of exclusive benefits here at SR; so checkout what we can offer to those that…
We’re always on the lookout for new writing talent so even if haven’t written for the web yet, feel free to contact us anytime
We’re always on the lookout for new writing talent so even if haven’t written for the web yet, feel free to contact us anytime
Bill writes: Is it good enough just to use Face Book or is it that much better to also add Twitter or other ones? www.NeedEncouragment.com
23:57:47 Tue Dec 29 2009 CST
Myrtle Beach South Strand Real Estate writes: Great article, it's always nice to see Googles viewpoint on what to do to maintain a searchable website. Bottom line, this is where the business is. If your not into this internet thing you'll slowly fade away in the real estate business.
8:36:31 Mon Dec 28 2009 CST
onlinewritingexpert writes: With this latest development, Google seems to be entrenching its dominance and dictating the terms of SEO and SERP's. Lets see how all this is going to pan out over the next few months.
3:02:03 Mon Dec 28 2009 CST
shawn writes: i am thinking about letting google do my optimization of my site is that a good idea?
14:40:56 Sun Dec 27 2009 CST
Allan writes: Eurica, I can understand your predicamet. I am a senior citizen and seem to spend an awful lot of my time reading - I never seem to catch up! I have been unsubscribing from a lot of the ezines I receive, but am glad I decided to keep Site References' newsletter, otherwise I would not know what is happening out 'there'. I really enjoyed this article.
1:48:40 Sun Dec 27 2009 CST
sunanda writes: This article is a good one except some odd looking ads on bruce clay at the end of it. Anyway I am quite astonished by viewing a dofollow link in this site-reference newsletter
8:21:38 Tue Dec 22 2009 CST
rigseo writes: Thanks for the information. Actually we were not aware about these information. I am looking forward to get more info on personalized search.
8:15:19 Tue Dec 22 2009 CST
Loan writes: It really helps If site is working according to this google search strategy
23:24:08 Fri Dec 18 2009 CST
Game Lister writes: Great articles, i wonder the google personalized searches results may impact to new released sites as if google based on user's past search history or references of clicks, would it be more harder for the new sites getting into the search bank?
22:11:44 Fri Dec 18 2009 CST
Pages: 1 | 2