Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO Text links and PageRank "let me talk about why we consider it outside our guidelines to get PageRank via buying links.
Google (and pretty much every other major search engine) uses hyperlinks to help determine reputation. Links are usually editorial votes given by choice, and link-based analysis has greatly improved the quality of web search. Selling links muddies the quality of link-based reputation and makes it harder for many search engines (not just Google) to return relevant results. When the Berkeley college newspaper has six online gambling links (three casinos, two for poker, and one bingo) on its front page, it’s harder for search engines to know which links can be trusted...
what is Google’s current approach to link buying? Of course our link-weighting algorithms are the first line of defense, but it’s difficult to catch every problem case in adversarial information retrieval, so we also look for problems and leaks in different semi-automatic ways. Reputable sites that sell links won’t have their search engine rankings or PageRank penalized–a search for [daily cal] would still return dailycal.org. However, link-selling sites can lose their ability to give reputation (e.g. PageRank and anchortext).
What if a site wants to buy links purely for visitor click traffic, to build buzz, or to support another site? In that situation, I would use the rel=”nofollow” attribute. The nofollow tag allows a site to add a link that abstains from being an editorial vote. Using nofollow is a safe way to buy links, because it’s a machine-readable way to specify that a link doesn’t have to be counted as a vote by a search engine."
So, not OK to sell to pass reputation, OK to sell for traffic....
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Friday, September 02, 2005
Google launches cinema tool -
Google launches cinema tool - Web User News Give users what they want then monetise school of thought as opposed to all we get is bloody poor traffic searching for cinemas...
: "Google users can find UK cinema showtimes using a new feature available on the web and mobile phones.
By adding the words 'showtime' or 'films' to a search query, the new Google Films facility will display cinema times at the top of the results. Eg Madagascar showtimes SE1 9LS, displays show times at cinemas near SE1 9LS.
An SMS version is also available, which will text you the showtimes at local cinemas of a film you're interested in. Text the film title and postcode to 64664 and Google will text back the reply. Normal network text rates apply.
Google Films is the latest feature that extends the search engine to the mobile phone, with similar text query services available from Google for driving directions, product prices and more.
Searchers will also get links to film reviews and an overall star rating generated from the concensus of critics around the web. You can also search for films by actor, director and even plot, eg film: tom hanks talks to volleyball, produces results for Castaway. "
: "Google users can find UK cinema showtimes using a new feature available on the web and mobile phones.
By adding the words 'showtime' or 'films' to a search query, the new Google Films facility will display cinema times at the top of the results. Eg Madagascar showtimes SE1 9LS, displays show times at cinemas near SE1 9LS.
An SMS version is also available, which will text you the showtimes at local cinemas of a film you're interested in. Text the film title and postcode to 64664 and Google will text back the reply. Normal network text rates apply.
Google Films is the latest feature that extends the search engine to the mobile phone, with similar text query services available from Google for driving directions, product prices and more.
Searchers will also get links to film reviews and an overall star rating generated from the concensus of critics around the web. You can also search for films by actor, director and even plot, eg film: tom hanks talks to volleyball, produces results for Castaway. "
Thursday, September 01, 2005
View topic - Webmasters Behaving Badly :: WebProWorld
View topic - Webmasters Behaving Badly :: WebProWorld: "From what i have seen adsense and adwords tend to bring out the worst in webmasters.
E.g. clicking on adwords ads paid for by competitors, clicking on your own adsense ads and as recently discussed, using the company names of your competitors in your adwords ads, using their good name to lure people to your site.
Why does adsense in particular have this effect on people? Is it all to do with the money? Or do people like the challenge of cheating google?
What further measures can be taken to combat webmasters behaving badly"
E.g. clicking on adwords ads paid for by competitors, clicking on your own adsense ads and as recently discussed, using the company names of your competitors in your adwords ads, using their good name to lure people to your site.
Why does adsense in particular have this effect on people? Is it all to do with the money? Or do people like the challenge of cheating google?
What further measures can be taken to combat webmasters behaving badly"
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Search Guys Really Don't Talk to the Ad Guys, Do They?
Traffick - Internet Search Enlightenment: "Geez, the Search Guys Really Don't Talk to the Ad Guys, Do They?
Anyone in the SEO game is by now reading Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO blog, and well they should. The 'real insider Googleplex scoop' is so often what emanates from Matt - and for those of us who don't get to 'that part' of the conferences, it's really illuminating reading.
I did scratch my head at Matt's helpful post about how to write queries. 'At Google,' he writes, 'we use [ and ] to mark the beginning and end of queries.'
Those of us over here in paid search world, of course, think [ and ] refer to an exact match in the AdWords interface."
Anyone in the SEO game is by now reading Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO blog, and well they should. The 'real insider Googleplex scoop' is so often what emanates from Matt - and for those of us who don't get to 'that part' of the conferences, it's really illuminating reading.
I did scratch my head at Matt's helpful post about how to write queries. 'At Google,' he writes, 'we use [ and ] to mark the beginning and end of queries.'
Those of us over here in paid search world, of course, think [ and ] refer to an exact match in the AdWords interface."
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Google Techs, Entrepreneurs Match Wits
E-Commerce News: Portals & Search: "Efforts to outsmart Google gall some webmasters such as Shari Thurow, who believes the best way to increase a site's search engine ranking is to offer valuable content and products. She describes the Black Hats as 'pathetic algoholics' because they are so obsessed with trying to figure out Google's algorithms.
Google knows it can't entirely avoid Black Hats.
"There are people who make their entire living off of Google, which is fine, as long as they don't push things too far," said Peter Norvig, Google's director of search quality.
But he said webmasters searching for secrets are better off looking elsewhere.
"Everything you ever wanted to know about Google is right there on the [online] forums that the webmasters run," Norvig said. "There is a lot of truth in there, but there's also a lot of crazy stuff. We just don't tell them which is which." "
Google knows it can't entirely avoid Black Hats.
"There are people who make their entire living off of Google, which is fine, as long as they don't push things too far," said Peter Norvig, Google's director of search quality.
But he said webmasters searching for secrets are better off looking elsewhere.
"Everything you ever wanted to know about Google is right there on the [online] forums that the webmasters run," Norvig said. "There is a lot of truth in there, but there's also a lot of crazy stuff. We just don't tell them which is which." "
Google Loosing Ground in China
Google Loosing Ground in China - Forbes.com: "A survey by a Chinese Internet research group has found that Google is losing market share to its biggest Chinese rival, Web search engine Baidu.com. "
Monday, August 29, 2005
Google Seeks to Develop Parallel Internet?
Slashdot | Google Seeks to Develop Parallel Internet?: "Google appears to be purchasing dark (unused) fiber optic cable across the United States with the intention of building its own alternative parallel internet that would presumably be called GoogleNet. Possessing such a thing could allow Google to offer internet access in the form of free wifi or other means and create a powerful captive marketing audience which Google could monopolize. Outside of these marketing opportunities, such a development in infrastructure could help reduce Google's long-term content delivery costs were it to take on more bandwidth-intensive activities in the future.' "
Google Groups : SEM 2.0
Google Groups : SEM 2.0: "RE sadness over Google messing with organic search: I'm reminded of the comment by a dot-com exec to a journalist, circa 1999, when asked if he was going to 'sell out' to a megacompany: ''Sell out?' This is a business, not a rock band! Of course I'm going to sell out!'
Google's IPO was their way of saying that it's a business, not a rock band. Nothing in business is sacrosanct, and I expect the public will catch on before too long. "
Google's IPO was their way of saying that it's a business, not a rock band. Nothing in business is sacrosanct, and I expect the public will catch on before too long. "
New Google Search Engine Results to Include Additional Site Links?
New Google Search Engine Results to Include Additional Site Links?: "The Google search engine results pages have remained relatively constant from a 'look and feel' perspective for some time. That is: title tag of the resultant site is listed first - hyperlinked to the entry - then a portion of the page or body text with the search term(s) bolded in the text - then the proper URL of the entry - followed by the file size and date.
.....
I searched under the phrase 'Top 10 Web Hosting'. It was then that I saw something that I had never before seen in a Google search engine result. In addition to the 'standard' search engine result as described above, there were 2 additonal lines of hyperlinked text...the first additional line contained four additional anchor text links (Partner5 - Web Designers - ASP Web Hosting - Partner2). Each link was directing to a separate page. Now instead of the 'standard' single URL/single link listing, I was looking at a single listing that was linking out to 5 separate pages. The last line of the search result (More results) linked to to the following Google search: 'site:www.top10webhosting.com top 10 web hosting'. This search shows the entirety of Google indexed pages for the site....
According to my search engine expert sources, this is typical of a 'test' that Google conducts from time to time. It may or may not indicate that the changes will become permanent. However, it is often the case that proposed changes will appear in this 'test' mode prior to a system-wide rollout.
It appears that the links in the first additional line are being scraped/spidered from the original listing page. I surmise this as the title tags of the linked pages are slightly different in syntax than the anchor text of the SERP links. However, the anchor text and links from the original result page (standard listing page) are identical to the anchor text and links in the additional line.
Will Google be creating multiple links per result across all listings soon? What would the listing for a site that has dozens of subcategories and sub pages (like eBay) look like under this paradigm? Will webmasters scramble to groom their internal links from their homepages - adding new anchor text and links? No one knows for sure, but it is interesting to see this type of test appearing at this time"
.....
I searched under the phrase 'Top 10 Web Hosting'. It was then that I saw something that I had never before seen in a Google search engine result. In addition to the 'standard' search engine result as described above, there were 2 additonal lines of hyperlinked text...the first additional line contained four additional anchor text links (Partner5 - Web Designers - ASP Web Hosting - Partner2). Each link was directing to a separate page. Now instead of the 'standard' single URL/single link listing, I was looking at a single listing that was linking out to 5 separate pages. The last line of the search result (More results) linked to to the following Google search: 'site:www.top10webhosting.com top 10 web hosting'. This search shows the entirety of Google indexed pages for the site....
According to my search engine expert sources, this is typical of a 'test' that Google conducts from time to time. It may or may not indicate that the changes will become permanent. However, it is often the case that proposed changes will appear in this 'test' mode prior to a system-wide rollout.
It appears that the links in the first additional line are being scraped/spidered from the original listing page. I surmise this as the title tags of the linked pages are slightly different in syntax than the anchor text of the SERP links. However, the anchor text and links from the original result page (standard listing page) are identical to the anchor text and links in the additional line.
Will Google be creating multiple links per result across all listings soon? What would the listing for a site that has dozens of subcategories and sub pages (like eBay) look like under this paradigm? Will webmasters scramble to groom their internal links from their homepages - adding new anchor text and links? No one knows for sure, but it is interesting to see this type of test appearing at this time"
Friday, August 26, 2005
Google aims for Web developers' hearts and minds
Google aims for Web developers' hearts and minds | CNET News.com: "Google aims for Web developers' hearts and minds"
MediaPost Publications - When Is Arrogance Good? - 08/26/2005: "When Is Arrogance Good? by Mark Naples
Remember when Google's Search Engine didn't accept advertising? Many of us were using it for some time before there were such things as paid search, let alone sponsored links. Why did we use it? Because it was a better search engine which delivered better results in a simple, elegant interface. Google built a tremendous brand well before they monetized it. Of course, this was done by design.
In some ways, what Google did was to leverage Geoffrey Moore's "Early Adopter" strategy, designed primarily for B2B markets and make it work in the consumer market. Surely you recall having read his "Crossing the Chasm"? Build the brand and make its applications as user-friendly as possible, well before undertaking any monetization strategies. What they did was nothing short of well-executed genius applied in ways well beyond what any early adopter acolyte could have anticipated. Of course, others got there first. But, that's another column.
Think of how Google has been replicating that endeavor in the past 18 months, but toward a different product. With Gmail, Google Sidebar (which used to be called Google Desktop Search), and now their own Instant Messenger beta, Google has been providing free and useful applications that will put Google code on millions of users' hard drives.
Not only are they expanding their brand, they're expanding their footprint in ways that are meaningful to users' hearts..."
MediaPost Publications - When Is Arrogance Good? - 08/26/2005: "When Is Arrogance Good? by Mark Naples
Remember when Google's Search Engine didn't accept advertising? Many of us were using it for some time before there were such things as paid search, let alone sponsored links. Why did we use it? Because it was a better search engine which delivered better results in a simple, elegant interface. Google built a tremendous brand well before they monetized it. Of course, this was done by design.
In some ways, what Google did was to leverage Geoffrey Moore's "Early Adopter" strategy, designed primarily for B2B markets and make it work in the consumer market. Surely you recall having read his "Crossing the Chasm"? Build the brand and make its applications as user-friendly as possible, well before undertaking any monetization strategies. What they did was nothing short of well-executed genius applied in ways well beyond what any early adopter acolyte could have anticipated. Of course, others got there first. But, that's another column.
Think of how Google has been replicating that endeavor in the past 18 months, but toward a different product. With Gmail, Google Sidebar (which used to be called Google Desktop Search), and now their own Instant Messenger beta, Google has been providing free and useful applications that will put Google code on millions of users' hard drives.
Not only are they expanding their brand, they're expanding their footprint in ways that are meaningful to users' hearts..."
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Google IM (almost) gets the message, users say | CNET News.com
Google IM (almost) gets the message, users say | CNET News.com: "Across the Web, many consumers hailed the software's quick download time, which takes a few seconds over broadband and about three minutes over a typical modem, according to the Google Talk Web site. They also applauded its minimalism. "
Inside AdSense - Google AdSense team blog
Inside AdSense: "Which is why we're proud to announce the launch of Inside AdSense here at adsense.blogspot.com. We think you'll find it useful and fun. We'll cover all of the items listed above, plus anything else that can help you to grow your AdSense revenue.
You can look forward to posts around 2-3 times a week from an assortment of Googlers involved in the operation of AdSense engineers, product managers, product marketing managers, and operations staff. We hope you'll visit often.
If you have suggestions for our blog, please send them to inside-adsense@google.com.
Posted by Gokul - AdSense Product Manager 8/24/2005 04:39:00 PM "our system now supports cost-per-impression (CPM) bidding. This lets advertisers try out their best ideas while we make sure that that the right economic incentives are in place.
Regardless of bidding method and format, all ads compete for placement on a page - and that means the winning ad meets a high bar for user value . Since site-targeted CPM ads and keyword-targeted CPC ads compete for every slot on a publisher's site, this improves how you make money.
For many publishers, site targeting actually serves as a sales team. When advertisers want to buy space on your site, tell them, "Just bid directly on our site using Google AdWords site targeting!" And the ads placed by our system will run alongside ads targeted directly by marketers"
You can look forward to posts around 2-3 times a week from an assortment of Googlers involved in the operation of AdSense engineers, product managers, product marketing managers, and operations staff. We hope you'll visit often.
If you have suggestions for our blog, please send them to inside-adsense@google.com.
Posted by Gokul - AdSense Product Manager 8/24/2005 04:39:00 PM "our system now supports cost-per-impression (CPM) bidding. This lets advertisers try out their best ideas while we make sure that that the right economic incentives are in place.
Regardless of bidding method and format, all ads compete for placement on a page - and that means the winning ad meets a high bar for user value . Since site-targeted CPM ads and keyword-targeted CPC ads compete for every slot on a publisher's site, this improves how you make money.
For many publishers, site targeting actually serves as a sales team. When advertisers want to buy space on your site, tell them, "Just bid directly on our site using Google AdWords site targeting!" And the ads placed by our system will run alongside ads targeted directly by marketers"
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Google Rumors: To Launch Instant Messaging Tomorrow
Google Rumored To Launch Instant Messaging Tomorrow: "Google Rumored To Launch Instant Messaging Tomorrow
Google to Deliver Instant Messages from the Los Angeles Times has unnamed sources telling the paper that Google will launched an instant messaging service called Google Talk as early as tomorrow. Aside from IM, the tool would also offer voice chat similar to what Yahoo Messenger currently offers."
Google to Deliver Instant Messages from the Los Angeles Times has unnamed sources telling the paper that Google will launched an instant messaging service called Google Talk as early as tomorrow. Aside from IM, the tool would also offer voice chat similar to what Yahoo Messenger currently offers."
Google changes irk advertisers, please publishers | CNET News.com
Google changes irk advertisers, please publishers | CNET News.com: "Publishers who have seen a bump in revenue through Google's advertising program are heaping praise on recent changes, while some advertisers complain of increased costs.
Google last Tuesday changed the way advertisers using its AdWords program bid on keywords, creating a minimum bid for each one based on a quality score it determines for the keyword. Google's policy statement says the change allows advertisers to resurrect keywords that previously had been disabled because of low click-through performance. "
Google last Tuesday changed the way advertisers using its AdWords program bid on keywords, creating a minimum bid for each one based on a quality score it determines for the keyword. Google's policy statement says the change allows advertisers to resurrect keywords that previously had been disabled because of low click-through performance. "
Somebody loves googleFriday, August 19, 2005
Google Tests New Results Pages
MediaPost Publications: "Google Tests New Results Pages"
"SEARCH GIANT GOOGLE IS TESTING a new way of returning natural search results, a source at the company confirmed Thursday. The new method involves inserting another set of results that are related to the user's queries within the natural listings. For example, a search for 'us' might return results related to the United States, and the abbreviation 'U.S.' at the top of the natural results, but then insert results relating to the keywords 'US Weekly' on the bottom of the organic results page. A Google source called the pages an 'experiment,' only being served to a select group of users on a test basis. The source added that the additional set of results for related terms are not sponsored by advertisers. -- Shankar Gupta"
"SEARCH GIANT GOOGLE IS TESTING a new way of returning natural search results, a source at the company confirmed Thursday. The new method involves inserting another set of results that are related to the user's queries within the natural listings. For example, a search for 'us' might return results related to the United States, and the abbreviation 'U.S.' at the top of the natural results, but then insert results relating to the keywords 'US Weekly' on the bottom of the organic results page. A Google source called the pages an 'experiment,' only being served to a select group of users on a test basis. The source added that the additional set of results for related terms are not sponsored by advertisers. -- Shankar Gupta"
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Google plans big new stock sale
Google plans big new stock sale | CNET News.com "On Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of its IPO, Google announced plans to sell 14.2 million shares of common stock on the public market, as seeks to raise more capital.
Google, which last year raised $1.7 billion with its long-awaited IPO, is hoping to raise in excess of $4 billion in this secondary offering, based on the current market price of $285 a share, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange commission.
"We anticipate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures," Google stated in its SEC filing. "In addition, we may use proceeds of this offering for acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies or other assets."
Google, which last year raised $1.7 billion with its long-awaited IPO, is hoping to raise in excess of $4 billion in this secondary offering, based on the current market price of $285 a share, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange commission.
"We anticipate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures," Google stated in its SEC filing. "In addition, we may use proceeds of this offering for acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies or other assets."
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal
Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal: "The search giant quietly acquires the startup, netting possibly a key player in its push into wireless, 'the next frontier in search' "
Google vs. Geico: Geico Spin Machine Undermines Google Victory - 08/17/2005
MediaPost Publications: "Google won a decisive victory in the most important part of a the trademark infringement lawsuit brought by Geico. But you'd never know that by looking at some of the headlines to emerge this week, which cast the decision as a loss for the search giant."
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