Google May Day update

Webmasters started noticing sudden affect in site traffic at the end of April month. Giant websites lost top ranking in search results for the targeted/product related key phrases due to Google May Day update which happened between April 28 to May 5. After this update, some of the e-commerce websites especially product pages lost their ranking for long-tail search queries. Most of the webmasters studied about this Google algorithmic change and discussed in detail.

During this update sites like Amazon didn’t affect due to proper internal linking structure, keyword repetition, product reviews and authority backlinks. Next step, check your site status in Google Webmaster tools and notice whether product page is removed from indexing. Utilize exact targeted key phrase within product page and internal links. Follow quality backlink process to retain the top rankings for targeted keywords and implement XML Sitemap.

Google keeps tuning their search algorithm regularly to provide best results to the user. This update is permanent and implemented in Google Caffeine update.

Optimizing Pagination for SEO & User Experience

Most of the e-commerce/ large site owners face trouble in deep page or specific product page indexing due to improper pagination. Also, this problem leads to duplicate content issue when single URL displaying multiple results or content.

Generally site presenting 10 results per page with more pagination will automatically affect the search engine and user to reach the exact product or information page. Also, site with or without limited categories displays larger number of search results (Results 1-5 of 1024) per category.

Develop site where user and search engine can reach the product or information page in few clicks. Creating many subcategories help in filtering the results and simultaneously assist the user to reach product page easily in fewer clicks. Google's recommended that pages contain no more than 100 links (internal or external) in order to make it easy for spiders to reach down deep into a site's architecture. So limit the page links to 100 and show fresh content at top of the search results increase popularity. Moreover clear XML and HTML sitemap helps in deep indexing as well.

Yahoo! binds more Tweets in search results

At the end of 2009, Yahoo! announced Tweet incorporation in SERP only for hot buzz topics. Yahoo collaborates with Twitter to integrate real-time content and complete public tweets. Recent days Y! partnership with Facebook and Twitter support them in expanding their social experience and delivering quality results to the user.

Coming Soon:

• Read personal Tweets across Yahoo networks.
• Update Twitter status from Yahoo!
• Social actions performed in Y! Buzz can be shared across in Twitter.
• Yahoo! media properties like News, Finance, Entertainment, and Sports will include real-time public Twitter updates.

Want to try the update then search for “iPad” or “Obama”. Learn more about this partnership at http://ycorpblog.com/.

More Real-Time Updates in Google

MYSpace added in Real-Time Search
As discussed earlier Google includes real-time updates in search results for hot buzz topics. Now Google officially comprise MySpace content to real-time search. Similar to tweets and facebook relevant MySpace photos, blog posts will be listed in Google which are just seconds old. You can activate MySpace updates in real-time mode by clicking on "Show Options" and then "Updates."

Image Filtering
Use [Site:] operator to filter the image results from particular website. Images are filtered based on the image source URL. Now you can remove the surplus and control search results.

New Era of Binghoo against Search Giant Google

Finally Yahoo! and Microsoft received approval for their search agreement, without limitations, from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission. The deal is signed for 10 years and the new evolution brings enhanced search experience to users, help advertisers to get better results and help improve monetization for partners. However, Microsoft will manage the technology platforms that deliver the algorithmic (powered by Bing) and paid (powered by adCenter) search results.

Yahoo!
Alliance will change the organic search listings and ads will be provided by Microsoft. Yahoo will continue to enhance their latest features like filters to refine search results, search assists, rich results and more applications to explore the relevant results faster.

Microsoft
Search Alliance brings cost-efficient way and time saving effort to your business. The transition will be available to the US users by the end of 2010 prior to holiday season. All global customers and partners are expected to experience the transition by early 2012.

Yahoo! and Microsoft will each represent and provide customer support to different advertiser segments. Track the search alliance updates at www.searchalliance.com.

Overview of latest Yahoo Search Updates

In last six months, Yahoo! search team released multiple updates which bring new search experience in exploring and delivering more relevant results to the users search queries. Started with new Homepage release across multiple markets with lots of additional features. Now Search Scan, Safe Search, and Search Pad are easily accessible in the new page design.

Powerful Search Query Assistance
Yahoo! search assist is refined with more suggestions and help you to discover related queries. Even real-time stock quotes or movie trailers will be comprised in this feature.

Discover Breaking News on Yahoo!
Easy to find real-time content about a breaking news all at one place. Relevant videos, photos, and tweets will be available in the search results page.

Relevant Results for Local Businesses
Searching for local businesses in Yahoo! is made simpler. Explore local business in one click even without specifying location. Refine results by clicking neighborhood or nearby cities displayed in the search results.

Tweets in Search Results
Twitter content is integrated in the Yahoo search results page for hot topics. The age of the tweets might vary.

Multimedia Search
More refined results are delivered in Yahoo videos and image search. These new refiners help you explore your favorite TV shows and movies, celebrities, or the albums and songs from your favorites music artists.

Improving Bing Search on Facebook

Microsoft and Facebook were successful partners for many years and continuing their valued relationship in 2010. This year they planned to enhance the Bing experience on Facebook. Micorsoft concentrates on social media & communication tools to improve their campaign performance along integrating live updates on search results.

Along with continued relationship Bing provides full feature access and better search experience on Facebook. Soon the search integration will be available to all Facebook users across US. Earlier, they were working together on Facebook advertising for long time providing quality experience to the users and advertisers. Now social media giant will take over responsibility in selling their display advertisements. Bing will continue to display their search advertisements on Facebook.

2010 Readers Choice Awards, Vote your favorites

Are you using online tools, software’s, web design, search engines and more? It’s time to vote for your favorite by categories. About.com Readers Choice Awards is going on and your participation is valued one. Voting takes place from February 1-24 and the winners will be announced on March 1.

Cast your vote in the below categories:

• Browsers
• Desktop Publishing
• Email
• Family Computing
• Google
• IM
• JavaScript
• Macs
• PC Hardware and Reviews
• Smartphones
• Web Design / HTML
• Web Search

Google focus more on Social search results

Earlier Google introduced Social Search in labs help to find more relevant content (blogs, tweet updates, etc) from your social connections and online contacts. Social search results are specific to you and can be viewed after signing into Google Accounts. Today Social search is available to everyone in Google Beta.

You can filter search results to view only content from your social networks by clicking “show options”. After entering search query [Seattle] Google Social Search includes your friend’s blog, tweets related to the search under "Results from people in your social circle for Seattle". This feature is available in Google Images search.

Also, the two new links for "My social circle" and "My social content" displays content source and how you are connected with the author.

Images with descriptions and labels helped bot to crawl and display in the search results. Some images were not shown in the result due to less information. Now users can include labels to the images and enhance the collection.

Google disclose 2009 searchers Report

Back to 2009, Internet usage is keep progressing for the years and search giants are providing frequent updates/features to retain the users. Today, Google revealed Internet users statistical information.

• 7/10 Google search queries comes from United States

• 1/10 Google users from United States use 10 search queries

• More than 1/3 of new search queries used by searchers, Excluding duplicates

• More than 1/5 of new search queries used by searchers, Including duplicates

• Google Users take Average of 9 seconds to enter a search query

• Google responds search query in Less than ¼ second

• 1 in 13 search result pages show Google map listings

• Country with the greatest increase in Google web search traffic in 2009 vs. 2008: Indonesia*

Statistical Data on Internet Users

Most of the user statistics is related to United States. 2010 would be a tough war between Internet search giants to increase and facilitate the user level experience.

2010 Begin with Drop in Page Indexing

Parties Over! Started 2010 with great hopes and turning points. Google updates PageRank at the end of 2009 and dropped page index in the beginning of 2010. Some of webmasters/site owners achieved progress in PageRank along with Backlinks but fall in page indexing.

Many SEO Experts who tested the Caffeine performance shared that Google Caffeine will index and prefer fresh contents. But this update starts fresh indexing count from level zero and increases rapidly in short time. And not much affects in search engine ranking for the existing targeted keywords.

Hope its time to sit and watch for the Google Caffeine Updates.

Kick Start 2010 with Google PR Update

Spending final moments of 2009 and stepping into 2010 with lots of expectations. Google gives a surprise gift for webmasters and site owners by updating PageRank in late 2009. Generally PageRank is updated once in 3 months but this update is unexpected by everyone.

In 2008, Google officially announced PageRank update at the year end. Similarly it occurred this year end too and expecting in 2010. Congrats to site owners/webmasters for attaining boost in PageRank. Others don’t panic as it won’t affect search engine ranking for the targeted keywords. Google Caffeine will be released in early 2010 and it will bring lots of surprise to you.

Have a wonderful New Year!

New Beginning of AOL

2009 end breaks Time Warner tie-up and makes AOL an independent company celebrating 24 years of leading Web Service. The new AOL reformation drives most of the users attention. Brand new images in logos with stunning themes add good-looking to the Home Page layout. Still home page sticks with Google Enhanced search results.

“Our new identity is uniquely dynamic. Our business is focused on creating world-class experiences for consumers and AOL is centered on creative and talented people - employees, partners, and advertisers. We have a clear strategy that we are passionate about and we plan on standing behind the AOL brand as we take the company into the next decade,” said Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL.

The AOL website performance is consistently growing for the past few months. In 2010, AOL desperately focuses in developing quality content to the users, products and better services for partners.

Google New Tool for Shortening URL

Visitors often face difficulties while sharing lengthy URL. Twitter automatically shortens the long URL due to character limit and sharing is made simple. Google launched Google URL shortener service available only in new Google Toolbar and FeedBurner version.

• Stability: Google's scalable, multi-datacenter infrastructure provides great uptime and a reliable service to our users.
• Security: Shortened URLs are automatically checked to detect sites that may be malicious and warn users when the short URL resolves to such sites.
• Speed: Product ensure this service is quick and continued to improve the speed of Google Url Shortener.
  

Bings new Visual, Weather and Movie Search Result

After releasing the new home page layout Bing is working hard to exhibit appropriate search results with additional features. Recent features help to take tough decisions and rich user experience.

General Search - Listing photo slideshow, attractions, current weather and events at the top results for top destination queries. The new enhanced city search results take you for virtual tour instantly.


Visual Search – More categorized visual information to access desired search result quickly. Currently the feature is available only in United States.

Weather Search – Bing provides current and extended forecast from multiple providers with average monthly temperature which assist in comparing forecasts.


Movie Search – Movie results gives rating, release date, ratings and latest reviews. Also, you can find showtime or nearby theater locations easily.

Some Important guidelines about Google Caffeine

Few months back Google search team announced about revolution of new search methodology called “Google Caffeine”. The sandbox version was functioning in http://www2.sandbox.google.com/ to get performance feedback. At present the URL is shutdown and will be released after holidays. Meanwhile most of the SEO experts, webmasters & developers tested the new search engine performance and published their feedback about the new search methodology. Following are some vital instructions to be pursued to retain site listing position for the targeted keywords/key phrase.

Google Caffeine focuses primarily in crawling large amount of pages and documents. Users will find more search results instantly compared to the previous version with minor variations in site listings and additional real-time updates like tweets, news, blogs etc.

Still domain age plays important role in attaining top listings position for the targeted phrase. Better site architecture helps bot to spend more time on your site and in indexing additional pages. Google Caffeine trails Keyword Stuffing firmly and penalize without delay.

Google Translate Element

Planning to translate the page content to user’s local language. Earlier owner spent lots of effort and investment to rewrite the copy and integrate functionality to translate the content. Now Google makes it easier by introducing new functionality called “Translate Element”. Implement the Translate Element code snippet in pages which you would like users to read in their local language.

Implementing the code snippet will generate pop up “Translate” button at bottom right-hand side of the page. Users can select their choice to translate the content from Google supported language list. Currently Google supports 51 languages (Arabic, Chinese, Danish, German, Hindi, Russian, Thai and more) to translate content on your website.

Before


After

Browser Size: To identify Visitors impression

People design and develop web pages based on their unique ideas to drive visitor’s attention. Generally everyone begins SEO immediately after launching the site and looking for better ranking position. When the “time spent on site” reduces owner get confused how visitors reacting to their site layout and to reduce visitors bounce rate.



Google developed “Browser Size” tool to portray how everyone looks into your site. This tool provides graphical presentation of visitor’s attention to page segments. Low % indicates visitor spent less time on that page segment and displaying offers at that section won’t create much impact. Also Browser Size tool helps designer to develop better layout by reducing page scroll and make sure that the important parts of the page are always prominent to audience.

More updates in Yahoo! Local Business Search Results

Earlier Yahoo! displayed map and direction at top of the search result page for Geographical search queries. Today Yahoo! provides additional information and options for local business search results.

Most users search local business information without including location in the search query. From now Yahoo! displays map, address, phone number, ratings and reviews. Also, this aspect is available when you search using business category general queries. Neighborhood cities are listed while searching for major city and relevant results are displayed at one click.

Sharing Web Page using Google Toolbar

Google Toolbar users can now share interesting web pages to all local and major social network. Discovered any hot topics while browsing and would like to share with your friends at one click. Toolbar team announced “Share Feature” which makes easier to share any page over various social networks, blogs and mail.

Share Feature is available in Internet Explorer and Firefox. New Toolbar Feature supports sharing through sites like Blogger, Delicious, Digg, Facebook, Gmail or other services. Check the video demo for more user experience.