Timing

Does being first count to Google

[kpaul]

Ok, say you cover widget news and you're one of the first websites to get content up about the latest widget scandal.

Does anyone think Google gives that page a little more weight in the SERPs for being caught by Freshie with new info on the subject first?

Or am I just too tired and thinking crazy thoughts?

Thanks.

[Wired Suzanne]

I think this is very hard to say.

On one hand, I would think you would be able to ride on the waves of everflux with your new page.
On the other hand, when a new page gets an extra lift, caused by everflux, others would get it too. And by putting it live later than you, they could get that little push up later than you.

Then, with a Widget News page, I think you should get your traffic from Google News. But who knows how that works? At least there you can see when the news was released. 45 min. ago - 30 min. ago - etc.

Overall, I would think that you should just work on your whole website. If all pages have a high PR, because of a good structure, you could be high in the serps all the time. Than adding a new page, would be no problem.

Anyway, who can tell what Google is up to at the moment?

[kpaul]

Thanks. It wasn't that I was trying to come up with a way to rank higher. I was just curious after noticing some things on my site. ;)

[rcjordan]

>caught by Freshie with new info on the subject first?

Interesting thought. We've had plenty of discussions about whether older sites get credit, but your question has a slightly different angle of attack.