Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Linkbait Shows Matt Cutts Being Electrocuted by Solar Panels
I didn't know that being electrocuted by solar panels was even possible, but apparently it is. Solar Dave made a really cute video about how it all went down: The idea behind the video, as Dave explains, was to illustrate that Google is starting to see that linkbait isn't all white hat and that there may be more "shades of gray" than assumed possible before (I guess anything can turn into black hat SEO if - What Happened At The Google Factory Tour
In a three hour video (but thankfully, there's a slides-only version that only features 162 slides), Google takes us through a walk of its search factory and the various components of the big search engine, from Alerts to Book Search to Experimental Products (Google Labs) and more. In the slides, you can see that Google looks to expound upon image search (and reflects upon its growth), especially with regards to image ads which are on - Microsoft to Offer Cash Back to Users
Search with Microsoft Live, get cash back. That's the new mantra behind Microsoft's Live Search Cash Back program, which has its own dedicated homepage and works like this: you search for a product using Live, buy the product through the search engine, and then save. The site explains "Every time you make a qualifying purchase, we'll send you an email to confirm your Live Search cashback savings. When your cashback account reaches a balance of - Google to Run Image Advertisements in Image Search
In September 2005, we reported that members were seeing image ads with Google Image Results. It seems that this is on the horizon and will be tested (and possibly rolled out) anytime now. As Bloomberg reports, "Display ads may work better with image searches because they seem more natural to people looking for pictures" (according to Marissa Mayer). There's no date on when this will be rolled out, but since Google can monetize image search, - Google Shares Information About Search Quality
Google's Udi Manber, VP of engineering, writes a very informative piece on the Official Google Blog about search quality at Google and the steps they're taking to make sure that Google's search quality is optimal. He explains that it has taken the engineering teams over 1000 man hours to develop without any stopping, and that's because the goal is to "improve the user experience." In this regard, there are a number of elements to search - More Google Floating Four Theories
Remember the floating four story I wrote a week or so ago? Basically how a search result would be in the fourth position and then go so a lower position, then come back to four and then go back again to a lower position? Well, the forum discussion has continued at WebmasterWorld and Tedster, WebmasterWorld's administrator, has posted a theory. I am a big fan of Tedster, so I wanted to share his thoughts with - Google Still Showing Different Results Base on Case Sensitivity
Back in February, I wrote a story named Upper Case & Lower Case Searches May Return Different Google Search Results. Since then, the discussion on that topic has died off. But in the past month or so, more and more people have been talking about how a Google search results will change based on if you use upper case letter or lower case letters. I have received emails, saw blog posts and watched thread after - Chark Added To Google Search Quality Support Team
First spotted by John, a new Googler has been added to the Google Webmaster team, to help webmasters in Google. The Googler's name is Chark, he goes by Char, and he is part of the Search Quality team. He promises to help put in the Google Webmaster Help Group. In a post, introducing himself at Google Groups, he shared some of his personal stuff: My foray into webmastering began with a personal photo gallery site - Google Search Index Update: May '08 Update
It looks that Google might be conducting some sort of major update. Yes, I know - Google is constantly updating, constantly adding content and "improving" the algorithm. But some changes make a bigger impression in the forums then others. I have noticed recent discussion at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint Forums with people either complaining or praising a major shift in their rankings over the past 24 hours. First post came in via WebmasterWorld at around 4:30am
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- 7 Tips for Keeping Your SEM Consulting Clients Happy, Sphinn
- Google Reader send notice for email broken, Google Groups
- Image Alt Text Vs. Image Title, Sphinn
- Microsoft Proposing To Buy Yahoo Search?, DigitalPoint Forums
- Microsoft Proposing To Buy Yahoo Search?, WebmasterWorld
- Register Country Specific Domains To Help With Local SEO, Sphinn
- Yahoo Are Busy With New Enhancements in Sponsored Search, WebmasterWorld
