As for Google

[Ross Dunn]

As for Google... I have experienced very frustrating and annoying glitches myself. I have a couple of clients with impeccable websites that have been consistently in the top10 for the past 3+ years... all of a sudden they are nowhere to be found under their target phrases. They can be found under totally rediculous phrases but not their core keywords they were doing so well under. My only recourse has been to implement further link building strategies for each client and to take away any potential roadblock to Google (ones that proved no problem before).

I have a lot of tolerance for Google's wanderings, especially when they can be explained away by better technology being implemented. Lately, however, I find that Google is stumbling more and more often. Stability has been a big part of Google's success and I have not been impressed with its stability this last 6+ months.

I for one, am looking forward to seeing Google get some competition over the next year. It would be nice if Google had a close race for first place.

How about you? How do you feel about Google?
Let me know through the poll I created. (my first one, I hope it works well ;-)

[fathom]

Great idea for a poll Ross! ;)

Transitional period are always problematic but I see not evidence that Google wishes to "not show solid results at the top for Google users".

When pushing client sites out in Google I keep a thought in mind, just because a client is not #1, or even #100 does not mean the top results is bad for Google users.

As spam is "in the eyes of the beholder", I also believe "impeccable websites" are the same thing.

To illustrate further... I knon of no industry that actually has a single business with 100% market share thus their are millions of impeccable websites and only one, #1 position. Thus I concentrate on setting my clients apart.

I have also found the "once only used terms" are far easier to capture, and also generate more sales, thus clients are quite happy ranking at #100 for that illusive "cash cow" term, when they are generating more conversions each month.

Should there be more competitiveness in search engines... sure, but in reality there isn't and wishful thinking doesn't make this happen.

Appreciating your target market does and in this instance Google stands alone.

Our problem that we must deal with, we (and our clients) are not Google target market, searchers are.

[ched]

my guess would be that both Yahoo and MSN (aka Microsoft) are gearing up to take a run at Google. It seems that Google is making a pre-emtive strike, but adjusting its algorythims, and there have been some funky results.

"Search" is changing - isn't it a lovely world?

[Reece]

Yahoo, AltaVista, Ask Jeeves, Google....the "king of the mountain" has varied over the last four years. I see this column that says AltaVista is poised to regain the crown, and another that says Yahoo's recent aquisitions will bring them the crown.

* yes I know, Yahoo is TECHNICALLY a directory.....

I just want to be found when people look, and I want to be able to FIND things with out all the extras that drag my speed down.
Today alone though, I have watched my search results fluctuate wildly..... I can see an update/edit in progress and it's driving me nuts! I keep telling my self it's the pigeons (http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html)....

[janeth]

I like Google a lot and think they are the best at this time. Yahoo wants to charge $300.00 just to look at the site. What happens if they become #1 maybe they start charging $500.00. Google is not the one to blame for the changes it is the people that try to cheat the search engines.
No matter who is #1 not everyone will be happy. But I can not think of anyone I would rather have at this time in that spot then Goolge.

[cohwill]

When I submit my clients to search engines, I submit to Google, but also to the smaller search engines and directories as well. This has helped my clients since Google takes many of the smaller SEs into account.

I am finding that Google is taking an average of 2-3 months to get a client indexesd. In the meantime, I am busy doing link building and making sure that I have submitted to all the relevant search engines.

[BKamau]

You know its unfortunate that people get so attached to a major brand they cannot make objective criticism.

Google is losing quality big time! I think Teoma's current results are much better and less spammy.

In so many categories (with any decent traffic) Amazon is coming up #1 for any keyword because its selling a book on the topic. Great they have billions of books, so they own Google to a certain extent. Many of the top ranking sites are spamming with obvious hidden text techniques and cloaking. When you complain nothing happens.

I bust my behind developing genuine content for my sites and clients (I guess this is cheating) while spammers consistently get top rankings. Many of the top results have little to do with the keywords at all, while many people with good content are way on page 40. Google's unstable results cannot be explained away with a dance or upgrades, its losing relevancy. And according to the latest research Google's users are losing confidence and becoming impatient only checking the first 3 sites for information.

Google shouldn't be some sacrosanct institution, and I am glad that someone has the nerve to start saying that the search engine is becoming less usable even to the end user. The time is right to give it some real competition. I guess now I'll attacked by the Google apologists. Bring it on!

BKamau
Principal www.EbizbyDesign.com - Promo, Sales Copy and Design to Enhance your Bottomline.

[Maureen]

BKamau:
And according to the latest research Google's users are losing confidence and becoming impatient only checking the first 3 sites for information.

Could you please expand on this statement? I'm very interested in reading more about how this information was compiled.

[fathom]

Yes that would be a very good read which I have not seen.

From a purely spectulative position -- could that "impatience" actually be "they found what they were looking for" and no need to look deeper?

In this instance (since research can only spectulate based on samplings) would Google not be doing "an exceptional job"?

Noting that searchers are Google target - not non-searchers that can't find what they are looking for.

[fathom]

Google is losing quality big time! I think Teoma's current results are much better and less spammy.

Many of the top ranking sites are spamming with obvious hidden text techniques and cloaking.

I bust my behind developing genuine content for my sites and clients (I guess this is cheating) while spammers consistently get top rankings.

Argumentatively if your site was ranked extremely well - would others call you spam?

Also - if a Google users clicks on a site listing, finds what they are looking for, and buy it... is this "spam"?

I would never view "spam" as all competition with or without a strategy.

Case in point - if another company invests in services that actually bring them closer to their target market, spending time and resources to improve their exposure, should they be considered garbage even if they have quality products that rival yours.

Recently a client dropped to #3 on a fairly competitive term, Amazon now has #1, and #2, yet no decline in click throughs were observed.

Why... Amazon has a book - and searchers were look for the real deal... thus no problem here! ;-)

[harrythehound]

Can I ask what may be a stupid question, but what exactly does 'spam' mean when relating to search engines?

I thought spam was unwanted emails?!?

[Runawayrentals]

Harry...

when it comes to SE's spam is many things, but basically it is cramming a keyword or keywords into a page in all ways shapes and forms, from hidden text to the content. Just to get a better ranking for the keyword(s).

[GrogSnAke42b]

When I search my own sites key words -
or even my URL on the major search engines
and indexes I find that Google is tops!

Teoma is three months behind on my site content
as is Ask Jeeves.

AltaVista was slow in listing my site, and is
also behind with the updates.

Google feeds most of the search directories that
span 17 time zones that visit my website. The
listing are current and my ranking quite high;
I can be found within the top 10 on most of my
keyword searches on google.

Search 'herbal index' on Google and my site is #3.

I'm more than happy with their omnipotent power.

[vfaulkner]

um, can we say monopoly??
Rarely do I use Google straight out to search. especially now in the einflux.