Search Phrase Relevance with Quotes

How to use Google to get better results

[percentages]

It strikes me that Google's results are so much better when quotation marks are used with search phrases that I have to wonder why Google doesn't place a higher emphasis on this aspect in its algorithm.

For those of us that do as suggested by GoogleGuy (analyze our logs) I'm sure we all see quotation marks used infrequently (less than 1% in my case).

However, when searching using quotation marks the search results are significantly better. The problem is that the majority of the general public do not use quotation marks for search phrases.

Wouldn't Google be able to increase the relevance of its results instantly by simply changing the algo to give a higher ranking in SERP's to those sites that that have exact matches for the search phrases used----i.e. it effectively ranks using the entire search string first and then backfills with sites that have each individual keywords splattered around the page?

If I search for "Statename widgets for sale" a site with that exact text is always more relevant than one with a PR 8 and couple of the keywords separated by 3 paragraphs of text.

For the last 2 weeks I have been using Google dozens of time per day to search for help with PHP, in every instance using quotation marks found relevant useful information, but without quotes....typically junk.

If the results are so much better with quotes, why not use that as the default....why demand that "Joe Public" reads the instructions on how to use a search engine before he can have decent results?

If Google wants to remain King I believe it has to help the average person more than it does today. A competitive engine could easily become more useful by simply adapting to how the general population use its services.

[vitaplease]

I agree in many instances Percentages, though i would not like to make it the default.

I would prefer Google would remove that childish "I'm feeling lucky" button and replace it with "Exact search".

[percentages]

vitaplease, your suggestion would also work!

The "I'm Feeling Lucky" button is an ego trip that simply doesn't pan out in most instances.

Replacing it with something useful like "Exact Search" would be of great benefit to most people. People shouldn't have to become geeks to use a search engine successfully!

[jbauder]

vital, THAT is a really good idea ... but my guess is a million people a day click that stupid button ;-)

[Powdork]

How does the I'm feeling lucky button show up in referrer logs?
Also, there would need to be a button next to search box on serp pages as well as maybe the on toolbar or make it a toolbar preference.

[percentages]

People like choice, my bet is only a small percentage of people use the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button. No way for us lowely webmasters to know, but Google must!

GoogleGuy challenge....reveal the percentage of people who actually use "I'm feeling lucky".

As for the Toolbar, since the day it started mis-reporting PR even I find it useless. As for "Joe Public", I doubt he even knows the toolbar exists.