Universal Search and webmasters - consequences, and what we can do

Not Google's objectives - possible strategies for webmasters

[wanderingmind]

The Universal Search is going to affect us in some way. Maybe we differ on the exact consequences, and possible steps we can take. We differ on Google's motivations too, as we can see in the other thread. Here I would like to narrow down the conversation a bit. The more experienced members here or specialists would know some of the answers, and it would be great if they could chip in.

1. Exactly what can webmasters expect from Universal Search implementation?

2. Apart from a brute force method of trying to keep our positions in SERPs, what are the potential steps we can take?

3. For informational sites (which are not news sites), what can be expected?

4. For corporate sites/ Mom-and Pops/ and commerce oriented sites, what would happen to their traffic?

5. What steps can be taken to minimise or maintain our current levels of traffic?

6. For those of us who don't know this yet - is it worth trying to get into News results, Video, Image results and how does one do that? Same for Froogle.

Thanks

Matt

[edited by: tedster at 4:00 pm (utc) on May 21, 2007]

[europeforvisitors]

Exactly what can webmasters expect from Universal Search implementation?

In most cases, there probably won't be much effect. In cases where a listing gets bumped off the page by other types of Google results, the bumpees may lose some traffic, but the non-bumpees may gain.

In other words, there will be winners and losers, just as there have been all along.

Apart from a brute force method of trying to keep our positions in SERPs, what are the potential steps we can take?

Be better than the other guys, so that you can attract inbound links from sites that Google trusts.

[pageoneresults]

1. Exactly what can webmasters expect from Universal Search implementation?

For some, it will be a postive experience, for others, a negative one. Same ole, same ole...

2. Apart from a brute force method of trying to keep our positions in SERPs, what are the potential steps we can take?

See below...

3. For informational sites (which are not news sites), what can be expected?

A little bit of movement in the SERPs? New strategies for promotion? See below...

4. For corporate sites/ Mom-and Pops/ and commerce oriented sites, what would happen to their traffic?

I personally don't think it is going to be that bad. If the upcoming changes cause major issues with enough users, I think we can predict what will happen, yes? But, the numbers are going to have be to HUGE I tell ya, HUGE! ;)

5. What steps can be taken to minimise or maintain our current levels of traffic?

This one gets beaten to death but I'm going to say it... Diversification. While I understand that diversification is key to success, sometimes there is only so much you can do on a limited budget. It is very difficult to replace Google traffic. That is a problem in itself. :(

6. For those of us who don't know this yet - is it worth trying to get into News results, Video, Image results and how does one do that? Same for Froogle.

See above. Diversification. Yes, its worth trying to get into anything you can that is going to bring more visitors to your site(s). And I do mean anything. The more, the merrier.

But, does your site justify being in the News results? Do you have something worthy of a Video presentation? And, what does Image Search do for you? There are certain sites that benefit from Image Search, is yours going to be one of them?

I can tell you from experience that being in the top results in image search can be more of negative than positive. I've had to disallow images from being indexed by Google because of hotlinking issues. That was before I had my hotlinking solution. ;)

I'm convinced that the way forward is localization. The Internet is too big for many businesses. They need to bring their tenacles in and focus more on the local market. Start small, then go big. Referrers are up from IYP, local directories, etc.