Different results when loged in to my google account?!

[joer80]

I did not know google did this, but for the search Texarkana Apartments, my website shows on the first page when logged into my google account, and the second page when I am loged out.

Did everyone else already realize that google was doing this?

[mjtaylor]

Yes, that's normal; Google's results reflect user behavior when known. To check your results without Google's cookies, I use the Scroogle Scraper.

[alienpest]

I use the Google.comUnPersonalized, and have checked it against search results from other users, it seems to be on target.

[zsherwin]

You should know that your results are being personalized whether or not you are logged into a google account. I was told this by an adwords support person.

If you just want to see where your ads appear without your own private google filter on, you can use this tool: https://adwords.google.com/select/Ad...ingPreviewTool

By the way, I find it really disturbing that Google is personalizing results in this way, especially since the majority of America has no idea this is being done.

[zsherwin]

Alienpest, how does one go about using Google.comUnPersonalized, as you said?

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by zsherwin

You should know that your results are being personalized whether or not you are logged into a google account. I was told this by an adwords support person.

If you just want to see where your ads appear without your own private google filter on, you can use this tool: https://adwords.google.com/select/Ad...ingPreviewTool

By the way, I find it really disturbing that Google is personalizing results in this way, especially since the majority of America has no idea this is being done.

Would you prefer that everyone in the world always see exactly the same results, even though not all would be either relevant or even readable, by virtue of geographical location, language, etc.?

And, what gives you reason to believe that people both believe and desire that search results not be personalized?

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[alienpest]

Originally Posted by zsherwin

Alienpest, how does one go about using Google.comUnPersonalized, as you said?

To be honest with you, I don't know where I got it, it must have been a Firefox add on, but I have it in my tool bar now. It gives a totally different set of results, and when I check it against what I would get from Kinkos, or a variety of other places where I am not logged into my account, it is consistent with them.

[prof611]

I didn't know about the Ad Targeting Preview Tool, so I decided to see how it worked, and discovered a very disturbing fact of which I was completely unaware.

I have a client who is using Ad Words to promote her website on Virgin Islands weddings. If I use a regular Google search for keyword "virgin islands weddings", it gives me a google.co.vi page, and her ad appears as #3 on page 1. Using the tool, and entering google.com and location United States, her ad doesn't show up at all until page 8!

For two years, she has been wasting her money -- no one will ever find her ad in the United States, which is her main market!

Does anyone have any idea about how to go about changing this?

Professor

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by alienpest

To be honest with you, I don't know where I got it, it must have been a Firefox add on, but I have it in my tool bar now. It gives a totally different set of results, and when I check it against what I would get from Kinkos, or a variety of other places where I am not logged into my account, it is consistent with them.

Try Google.com UnPersonalized - Google Search

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by prof611

I didn't know about the Ad Targeting Preview Tool, so I decided to see how it worked, and discovered a very disturbing fact of which I was completely unaware.

I have a client who is using Ad Words to promote her website on Virgin Islands weddings. If I use a regular Google search for keyword "virgin islands weddings", it gives me a google.co.vi page, and her ad appears as #3 on page 1. Using the tool, and entering google.com and location United States, her ad doesn't show up at all until page 8!

For two years, she has been wasting her money -- no one will ever find her ad in the United States, which is her main market!

Does anyone have any idea about how to go about changing this?

Professor

One selects the target audience(s) at "Campaign Summary > Your_Campaign_Name_Here > Edit campaign settings"