Google’s Algorithm Officially Integrates User Feedback

Everywhere you look in search engine optimization sites, the word of the day seems to be “Panda.” Or, if you prefer, “Farmer” – since the two monikers both describe the major Google algorithm that was implemented to fight off spam. While everyone is eager to figure out how to avoid being flagged as a spam site, another major element of SEO has just been made official: user feedback is a recognized signal in Google’s search algorithm. This isn’t exactly unexpected. After all, Google representatives have been saying for several months that user feedback, including on social networks, would be examined for its potential uses in search. Additionally, the Google “+1″ button released serves an almost identical function by allowing users to state, clearly and simply, which sites they like. Even further, Google’s “block site” feature allows users to point out pages that seem to be spam. Each of these services had an ambiguous impact on SEO. The +1 or promoted social search features, for example, certainly did impact the results your connected friends saw – but did it impact the site’s rank overall? Would it with enough +1s or other promotions? Similarly, while the “block site” feature didn’t originally impact search directly, how would that data be used? That’s all been cleared up with a simple statement in the global rollout of Panda: “We’ve also incorporated new user feedback signals to help people find better search results.” Of course, exactly how much will be impacted by these signals, how quickly shady optimizers will start trying to game this feedback, and what precautions Google is taking against false positives in feedback are all unknown. Source http://www.searchenginejournal.com/

Ad Tech 2011 Panel On SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Now, it's 12:11 PM, and this Ad Tech 2011 Convention Panel is about that ever-changing field of SEO or Seach Engine Optimization. (A panel just before Guy Kawasaki's talk about "The Art Of Engagement.) The panel speakers are Melanie Mitchell, Senior VP, Search Strategy Digitas, and presenters Lee Odden, CEO, TopRank, Rob Snell, Managing Partner Snell Brothers Consulting (who talks about "Redneck SEO" ....Geez, but it's actually a pretty good and funny presentation), and Simon Heseltine, Director, AOL. Yeah, that AOL that purchased The Huffington Post. Cool that AOL is in the house. What's interesting about the panel is that marketers, and digital marketers are in this room, but the people who really need to be here, but are not, are journalists and Old Media publishers. Everything that's being talked about here: basically how to use search and make a website to make sure people find your product - is relevant to an industry that's suffering in this area and is under the weird idea that paywalls will save them. Some interesting notes: 1) the SERP - search results - have changed, and because there's so much more kinds of data that's presented. 2) SEO is now combined with Social Media Optimization (SEO). 3) A lot of people invest in SEO, and marketers get the benefit. 4) Panel preaches what I've said again and again: you have to be multi-platform: on blogs, video, micro-blogging platforms, photo-sharing platforms, and so on. I call it "dropping the nuke." Just make sure the nuke, your content and the platforms, is large enough to really be a nuke. 5) Make sure your training your people in this stuff. The basic message is "optimize content." What's content? Well, if you're a writer, you should know: you make it. Source http://www.sfgate.com/