The 5HITS

So Google has just anounced, if you are logged in you can manipulate your search results, and would not rule out these manipulations being included into the algorithm in the future at some stage, bringing a human power element into the mix and potentially giving Google an edge over purely software driven search results. Google Searchwiki, you can read more at Searchengineland.

The Google folks are all very smart people, at least the ones I have met appear to be. But, I have the following question?

If search results are mainly about discovery and the answering of questions. Why would you manipulate them, so you know the answer or potential answers before you search. I can see the fun side, like me ranking this blog #1 for the term “search engine optimisation” on our office gmail login and seeing who realizes first. Also potentially very niche searches who want to see very specific results only for a group of people. But why would I edit search results when I am looking for answers.

It will also be interesting to see how the comments get handled and whether they are spammed out of existence or not. Maybe the community will rule on this one.

Anyway, watch this space, and my blog going to #1

Online marketing, Search Marketing Searchwiki

I don’t usually review tools, but Google have just released their new search based keywords tool. Now you can make sure you don’t miss any of those additional keywords you maybe meant to include, but didn’t buy.

The cynics might think extra keywords = extra revenue, if everyone has the keywords = more competitive bidding = higher cost per click and more profits to the big G. Google also gives the disclaimer that using the tool will not necessarily improve your campaign performance. But this tool is a help to those consulting and doing keyword research. At a glance you can see the keywords, suggested bids, search volumes and other information, as well as being able to sort by field for the website or an entire category.

 You can also create a search on the term and view the search term with Google Insights to get additional information.

Putting the new search based keyword tool to the test:

Using Belldirect, a newish share trading entrant to Australia with a clean website. Share trading and online share trading is the key search term for sites like these.

The tool produced a list of 190 keywords with search volumes of 25 to 23,000 for the term “share trading” and split these between those relevant to your site and then keywords related to your search term. First thing to notice is the Google AdWords tool gives the search volume on “phrase match” at 27,100 for October and 18,100 average and 130 closely related and 70 broadly related terms. That’s a difference in excess of 20% both ways on search volumes. The outcome was similar for other popular sites and keywords. Google does however say the data is updated every couple of weeks, so no doubt this is due to timing differences in the cut off of the data and also to keep webmasters guessing as to search volumes.

But, the real value is this tool telling what keywords your Adwords campaigns is missing, so no opportunities are missed to appear for more keywords or pay Google more cash.

 Questions for Google

• Thanks Google for an extremely useful tool, but please tell us which search volume number more accurate
• You get limited keyword ideas if your Adwords billing address is outside of the US or UK. Does this Read more…

Paid Search, Search Marketing search based keywords tool

We know the number of web pages is growing exponentially, more and more content is out there.

We know that around 75% of small businesses do not even have a web presence, try searching for a butcher in your local suburb. This will grow over the next 3 years.

We know that large companies can afford good web design and search engine optimisation (SEO) firms to help them build their rankings in search engines.

We know that Google is largely dependent on search related revenue and continued growth, and it is thus critically important for them to keep users engaged with search results.

We know that human beings are creatures of habit and that most will not act more than around 30% of the accepted norm.

 Finally, we know search is a set of software based rules, search engines cannot see the patterns or form opinions, it is rule based.

So what? I hear you think?

Well, if most established sites and companies can afford large websites and the best SEO advice money can buy, the chances of a smaller company ranking for a highly searched on term does not look so good from the start, and we know search users will use similar key terms to find things. In fact Google helps with the suggest feature. So other than for obscure, long tail items, pretty much,  you are going to see the same culprits ranking for certain keywords, being branded, well known large organisations. Right? In fact search users get comfort they have used the right search terms when they see brands they recognise in the results who provide the product or service they are after.

So if 20% of all keywords provide 80% of the traffic and there is big dollars behind these search terms, how will Google keep users engaged in search results which have the potential to become increasingly similar for similar terms, other than to encourage them to click past the first page of results.

Read more…

Online marketing, Search Marketing behavioural search, local search