2by4 - 5:27 am on Feb 21, 2006 (gmt 0)

I completely disagree if you're suggesting that your example shows any decline in quality, in fact, I'd say quite the contrary, the usa search for example even gives the gadget happy usa searchers access to that ferrari branded laptop, just what they were maybe looking for.

What strikes me is just how accurate those results are per country in terms of trying to return what each region's searchers really want to see when they type that keyword in there. Your example shows me why google would geotarget, not why it's a bad idea. Say the dutch are really into formula 1 racing mainly, the germans like buying the things, the americans have a slightly different point of view - what would not make any sense would be returning the same exact set of results to each totally different region and population, as if we are all the same identical thinking creatures everywhere google can be reached.

So it's just a matter of knowing your market and your keywords, seo isn't as easy as it was in 2000, that's true, but if it was you wouldn't be able to make any money at it since then anyone could do it.

Targetting international searches isn't that hard, but you do have to have a good idea of what they are. SEO isn't a fixed game, it changes all the time, every 6 months to a year it's different in some way or other, that's the game, it's why you get paid to do it, or why companies have to pay to get it done.

If you find you don't like the game it's probably a good idea not to play it, or find some other version to play. Some people do very well at it, others complain a lot, and others say nothing.

<<< But it is my job to understand what is goin on right now and where this is heading to. >>>

Exactly, you posted that after I made this response. One piece of advice, if you want it: the less time you spend complaining and the more time you spend learning and testing, the better you will get. Some people on these boards have been complaining for years, others stopped posting and have since retired rich.

It's better to have a positive sense of where google is going than to complain about it, complaining won't change it, so learn it and then learn how to use that knowledge to your own benefit. The real trick is to watch what most people who do seo do, and to then avoid that.