Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
So what does this mean? If I put the + at the end of the first search term, again I get a slightly different set of results. Also, the number of results returned is tenfold.
Nothing seems to change in the SERPS for Keyword1 + Keyword2.
Although this is slightly different Google's explanation on the use of a + is:
Search exactly as is (+)
Google employs synonyms automatically, so that it finds pages that mention, for example, childcare for the query [ child care ] (with a space), or California history for the query [ ca history ]. But sometimes Google helps out a little too much and gives you a synonym when you don't really want it. By attaching a + immediately before a word (remember, don't add a space after the +), you are telling Google to match that word precisely as you typed it. Putting double quotes around a single word will do the same thing.
1. Save the urls for the two different searches and investigate the parameters that show up in the query string.
2. Do the same search both throught the Toolbar and the regular Google home page
3. Make sure Google suggestions are turned on and see how the + sign changes those suggestions
It's useless. Look at the cache of a page, "widgets+" is highlighted.
If it meant nothing then why is so consistent? When logged out from Google, using both the toolbar and regular Google search, our two word search term yields the same results.
I have now tried this by reversing the keywords and placing a '+' in different places (w/o space). The order of the search results change slightly but our site remains poised at nos. 1 for the following search query order with a '+'
KW1+ KW
KW KW+
+KW KW
KW +KW
Here is an example when searching on google.de of a KW1 KW2+ search string (%2B represents +):
/search?hl=de&safe=off&q=keyword1+keyword2%2B&btnG=Suche&meta=
Seems too consistent to be coincidental and our recent efforts gives us reason to believe that we may be expecting these results down the line. Alternatively it is telling us that had we not tripped an OOP then we would be at this position! I will post back with any further developments.
As a footnote we get similar results when misspelling keywords.
You are just searching for something completely different.
A search for "example" is different than "example+".
[google.com...]
[google.com...]
You arn't using the '+' symbol as a search term operator, you are using it as part of the word.
For it to be a search term operator you need to have white space between it and 2 search terms.
It is a typo, get rid of it and move on.
No one is searching for red widgets+
What do you mean "consistent"?
I mean the results show my site at number 1 for almost all 2 keyword phrases that we are actively promoting. Coincidence - No Consistent - Yes
I am not intentionally using the '+' as an operator nor in this case am I trying to understand user search behavior.
I am interested in why Google returns the results in the way that they do for a symbol that they ‘ignore’ from regular searches unless used as a search operator.
The point of this thread is to see if others who are targeting certain 2 word key phrases are showing an increase in SERP position using this method. If others do report a change, how could the results be interpreted.
It could mean that using the + sign adjacent to the key term emphasizes the word. If you have optimized for one word more than the other this might explain why the results vary. Perhaps its an over optimization penalty that shows up when you somewhat negate the normal search by adding + which in itself is like a spelling error which could mean the two term phrase you are targeting has been flagged as overdone and you should dilute the mix.
I know for a fact that we have over optimized one set of keywords ‘Spotted Widgets’ and as such we are completely buried for these two terms. However, the following search puts us in first place: ‘+Spotted Widgets’ and ‘Spotted +Widgets’.
Click the links. They don't ignore it.
The following search tells me that Google predominantly uses '+' as an operator:
[google.com...]
Let me try and be more specific.
What can be attributed to these differences:
'blue widgets'
[google.com...]
and
'blue widgets+'
[google.com...]
In this example you aren't using it as a search term operator, you are using it as part of a string.
In order to use the + symbol as a search term operator you have to have a space between it and a string which you do not have.
Think of this example.
1) cross-dresser
2) cross -dresser
In example 1 I'm not using '-' as a search term operator, I'm searching for the string 'cross-dresser' not cross minus(remove) results with dresser.
In example 2 I'm using it as a search term operator to remove dresser from the results.
I am not sure why you can't see the difference between
example+
and
example
It is the same difference between
-++-
and
-++-+
I am very well aware of the INTENDED public use of search term operators.
The question is, what can be drawn from the difference in results when a search term operator is used in a way that as not intended for public use.
According to this thread's consensus there is nothing to conclude however, I am keeping an open mind.
A lot of the cases where I try this, I see the "keyword+ only appears in links..." message at the top. Still, the results often feature "keyword2" on the page. I'm guessing there's some fuzzy logic going on, trying to combine useful results in the case of a typo with useful results in the case of an intentional "+"
A search for [word example] is different than [word example+]
Results for [HIV+ testing] differ from [HIV testing] and [HIV- testing]. The plus or minus are just part of the word
Could just be the way the algo deals with typos. Might be nothing more than Google giving sites with the most typos a boost for certain terms (note to check site spelling!)
Steveb - not sure why you keep referring to [absolutes]
HIV+ is a four letter word to Google, as it should be.
Adding a + to the end of a word is like adding a letter.
