Forum Moderators: open
I have noted more than the usual shifting of pages in and out of the SERPs for the past week or so, and of course we have seen threads about updated backlinks (FWIW).
Anyone else seeing changes?
WBF
I don't like it, anymore than you do! But it's true.
Could be an interesting week
The increase looks to be tons of url only and supplemental listings. In other words, nothing new here.
Sites that are doing well are doing so due to blog backlinks, and other spammy techniques. Good sites with unique and useful content aren't doing well, while sites with template garbage content rank well.
That's just not true! To my knowledge there is not a single blog backlink pointing to any pages on my site. I avoid anything resembling SERPS spam because I like my positions, for the most part.
I've got top 10 positions for hundreds of keywords throughout my site. I got those positions through careful consideration of EVERY page on my site. In a few cases I've managed to topple the old dinosaurs that reigned at number 1 for so long. None of this happened overnight. I've been working toward this goal for the past year.
The increase looks to be tons of url only and supplemental listings. In other words, nothing new here.Agreed. A while back Google had indexed all my subdirectory indices for which there were no index.htm pages. They got it fixed but now all those pages are listed again when using the site: command. Of course, these pages don't include the word 'the' so they are not included in that 9.7 billion results.
You said MSN was launching there new search on Thursday. Any more info on that you can share?
[online.wsj.com...]
Makes you wonder who will get their Christmas wishes and who will get a lump of coal! I hope they both double check to see who has been naughty and who has been nice!
Look at the bigger picture. Google has attracted users via good results, without them they are nothing. There are hundreds of companies and thus potential advertisers at any one time not in the top ten for a keyword, whoever they rank top.
If google can keep its users, then there will be plenty of advertisers. They are not going to deliberately risk showing 'not quite relevant results' so that people click adwords. The reality is that the public like good results and 'non sponsored' listings are a magnet for users.... that is the key. If google only showed sponsored results or poor free results to manipulate their sponsored 'clickability' then the overall result would be less users because credibility would fly out of the window.
Every element of a google search result page is an attempt to provide the best they can, somtimes they screw up, but not in a deliberate attempt to manipulate the user. That would be a very short sighted strategy and as a very high percentage of users will never click 'sponsored listings' because the perception is 'free = credible' then they need to keep this bulk of users to attract advertisers in the first place.
I completely agree with you.
Every element of a google search result page is an attempt to provide the best they can, somtimes they screw up, but not in a deliberate attempt to manipulate the user.I find that sweeping statement to be a bit naive, no offense. Do you think the gradual switch from the colored background of sponsored results to a white background is not an attempt to get folks to click on the right (i.e. manipulate the user). While I am not a firm believer that Google would make changes to its search algo in order to manipulate results, why wouldn't they? The amount of extra income they could bring in is staggering. The chance of it biting them is remote. They would IMO be acting against their shareholders by not doing it.
Yes there is/has been an update, my site is now out of the sandbox and appearing in the serps. Or at least one page is Ill have to check on the rest.
Submission was in September appeared todayish.
8 weeks total. This is comparable to other sites pre 2004 that I have submitted.
It's staying constant - have checked via a couple of different connections
Could this be teh cause of your/our belief in teh google aint working correctly theory?
With a chnage of algo the serps change until people get an idea as to how it works and the serps fill up again with good results. What im trying to say is I think currently the serps are over specific for search terms and getting wrong - a situ that will change given time.
Of course I could be wrong but Ill let you know.
A huge drop in backlinks, they were all there a few hours ago. No change in rankings though. Am I hallucinating?
Am I hallucinating?
I don't know. What are you on?
A 2.4 gig PC with 512 ram, with a cool little mouse that has a fan inside to keep my hand dry.
;-)
On the horizon a dark cloud I see, Hmmmmm?
Know you not that Darth Google moves to the dark side every november, hmmmmmm?
Find out you will.
[End Yoda Voice]
jd
Rugles, killer comeback. :)
So the answer to the original question is, "Yes, there is an update going on."
No change in SERPs yet, but I don't suppose it will take long for them to recalc across the whole index. Certainly before we lunch with them next week.
[google.com...]
Read all about it.
