The Search Engine Blog
News and Tips From The Search Marketing World
Block Sites In Google Searches
How many times have you clicked on a link in Google’s search results only to find a site you didn’t really want. Now you can click to permanently block that domain from future searches. Of course you’ll probably have to be logged in to your Google account first. Privacy issues with that? Don’t log in. No doubt Google will be using this data to help them provide better search results. I call this the anti-Facebook. In Facebook’s pleasant-ville world, they only provide a Like button. Read more at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/hide-sites-to-find-more-of-what-you.html.
The New Google is Here!
Wow! I’m somebody now! The new Google algorithm is out and impacting about 12% of the search queries according to the Google Blog. This update is targeting spammy sites to help searches find the original content or a page with content. The sites that should be negatively impacted are scrapers that copy content and sites overburdened with advertising. This should mean that original content rises to the surface. How is your site doing?
Google Changes May Be Afoot!
There are warnings out in the forums that Google changes may be coming shortly. Brace yourself. In an effort to improve their search results quality, Google has been promising a major update and it appears to be getting closer. We’ve already seen some fluctuations that appear to be tests. The finale may be here soon.
This update is intended to penalize spammy sites. Unfortunately, many good sites can be penalized in the process. Pay attention and clean house on your site now.
Has Your Site Traffic Dropped?
There are signs that Google may have started to implement their anti-spammy site algorithm. At least there are a number of people complaining about a substantial loss in traffic. Where are the people complaining about a big increase in traffic? Where is this traffic going? Are fewer people searching? No word from Google, but they did warn us. Discussion at http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4258897.htm and a lot of other forums I’m sure.
What can you do? Keep your site clean and keep creating content that people actually want to read. Our sites have only normal fluctuations in traffic. Another suggestion, hire me to help.
Who is King?
Google has been receiving a lot of criticism regarding the quality of searches. Yes, spam content sites have been an issue for months causing many to jump ship to Bing for research (including me). Google finally woke up and has released a few statements across the boards that they are beefing up their elimination of spammy sites. It’s long over due. They have been adding new features and providing some good tools, but temporarily forgot why they were in business. To Google we say, don’t forget your primary business…..delivery of quality content. To web site owners we say, don’t forget your primary business….creating quality content. Yes, content is still king.
Remove Robots.txt and Get Lost
In a post on Google’s Webmaster’s Help Forum, a site owner posted questions about their lengthy robots.txt file. The conversation goes on for a while and finally a Google employee recommended that they remove their robots.txt file? Why? It is rather silly having a robots.txt file when properly developed sites tell any robot how to index the site, but is it wise to remove it? I’d say no just because of the errors you’ll generate. I personally think Google gave this advice to this person because they were making a mountain out of a molehill. Get all that junk out of your robots.txt file and focus on a properly configured server and improved web site. Read more at Search Engine Rountable.
Site Hacked Alert in Google Search Results
Google will now alert you to a site having been hacked within the search results. This doesn’t mean that the site is dangerous, however sites that have malware have usually been hacked. A hacked site could display content or contain links that the owner of the site never intended to have there. It’s a warning to approach the site with caution or avoid it altogether. If you need to view the page, perhaps the cached version will be a safer approach. Webmasters can use this as a quick check to see if their site is hacked, although they shouldn’t rely on this as their primary detection tool. The announcement and the usual discussion loaded with ignorant comments can be found on Google’s Webmaster Tools Blog.
Happy Holiday Presents from Google
“Search queries” and “links” analytic tools that will make any web-marketer salivate….and they’re all free. Yes, Google has done a great job adding some useful tools that show queries by link and redirected linking. Details are on their Webmaster Central Blog.
Google Reading Level Search
Google’s Advanced Search page now let’s you specify your reading level and will attempt to only provide content that you are able to read. There is a discussion on the Google forums here. Turning on this feature let’s you filter content by reading level and will show you how much content is within each level using a helpful bar graph. I would think it beneficial for younger students doing research.
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