Geolocation

Methinks Google has lost the plot

[kaled]

Whilst Googling to check a spelling, I noticed that geolocation is applied to web searches.

In the UK, when I search for <keyword> I get mostly UK pages. When I go to google.com.au I get a mix of UK and Australian pages.

This may make sense to Google but it does not make sense to me. However, more to the point, does it mean that I should move to a US host since my market (software) is global?

Also, is there a recognised standard way to check SERPS in other countries?

Kaled.

<Sorry, no specific keywords.
See Google Forum Charter [webmasterworld.com]>

[edited by: tedster at 3:05 am (utc) on Mar. 16, 2006]

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Geolocation assumes that people are stupid and do not have the savvy to do a geo search themselves. It does not add value.

If I am searching for something I want to be the one who decides what geolocation's are relevant. It's time they took a look at this because anything that moves search in this direction is BAD.

It should be the user who choses the search parameters not the search engine.

[kaled]

Having cleared cookies and selected an anonymous proxy in the US, I checked some keyword searches for my site. There are significant differences. In all cases, my site does worse (or equally) in US-based searches. I could find no examples where my site does better in US-based searches so I think I can reasonably conclude this is not some random data-center effect.

Whilst I do use Google for country/city searches I mostly use Google for technical searches. A while back I was doing some research on ram/scram jets. Can anyone explain to me why sites in the UK are more likely to be useful to me than sites elsewhere? Of course not (unless I'm looking for a manufacturer).

Google should either switch off all user-specific filtering for web searches (based on IP and/or cookies) or provide an option for the user to do so.

This policy is the sort of rubbish I expect from Microsoft, not Google.

Kaled.