Google Panda is the Google algorithm that specifically attempts to improve the relevance of search results. While the Penguin algorithm focuses more on link quality, Panda is still very important and focuses on content quality. The standards Google uses in Panda are, like its namesake, fairly black and white. 10 Ways Google Determines Content Quality 1 ) Links: Especially from recognized "authority" sites within a particular niche are an important indication of content … [Read more...]
Fake Verizon Wireless Email: Email Scams & How To Avoid Them
Below is why you should get ‘out of the habit’ of clicking on any links within an email. Scams are running rampant with email and they’re not always easy to spot with the naked eye, so be cautious and think before you click. PLEASE NOTE: THE PHOTO EMAIL BELOW IS NOT SENT FROM VERIZON®. IF YOU RECEIVE IT, IT'S A FAKE. IT IS BEING USED BELOW AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ACTUAL "PHISHING" EMAIL I RECEIVED. VERIZON® IS ALREADY AWARE OF IT AND TRYING TO PUT A STOP TO IT. THIS IS HERE TO … [Read more...]
Study: “Social Signals” Boost Organic Search Engine Rankings
Just over a year ago in February of 2011 I did a post on "social media" and "social signals" called Social Media 101 “Algorithmically Speaking”. The post detailed how social media was a necessary component of search marketing and how "social signals" likely effected search engine rankings, if not at that time, would soon thereafter. The idea, at least publicly, that social signals could or would influence rankings began a while back in 2010 but the buzz has grown … [Read more...]
Google Penguin: After Carefully Measured “Blowback” Penguin Released
In the beginning of last month (April) Google announced the release of a large scale update to its search algorithm which took place in late February. This particular update, which is referred to in the webmaster community as “Panda 3.3”, has been considered an extension of previous updates which have taken place over the last year ("Panda" through "Panda 3.3") but are unlike those which are related to content, identifying the originators of content, and brands - what Google … [Read more...]
Google Market Share Strong Despite Growing Legal Problems, Competition
Google's Street View project is currently being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). While Street Views are designed to provide panoramic views and wireless mapping of areas, there are allegations that the process “went beyond mapping wireless connections” and private information and communications have been intercepted and collected during the process. According to FCC documents, Google's data gathering efforts have allowed people’s communications, … [Read more...]
Authorship: Hooking Up Your Site with Your Google+ Page and YOU
I’m jumping right on the bandwagon with all of this Google+ stuff and advising others to use it without much hesitation because I’m pretty certain I know where it’s all going; I posted about it last year in fact. Google will use the power of its intermingling services to compete and possibly beat Facebook.com and other fast rowing social networks by rewarding sites which participate - with better rankings on Google. That’s the game at play, and a winning strategy for the … [Read more...]
Sudden House Passage of CISPA Legislation Sparks Hullabaloo
The rapid approval of new cybersecurity legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday has caught opponents off guard. The controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (CISPA) would grant law enforcement and national-security agencies broad powers to monitor private electronic communications. The 248 to 168 margin was especially galling to critics who had harshly denounced the bill as even more expansive than either the Stop Online Piracy … [Read more...]
839 New Generic Top Level Domains To Make Internet a Confusing Space
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is set to change up the Internet address system once again. While Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) were relatively fixed in the past, there are those that are pushing to get the green light for new domains. So far, a good deal of domain marketing has focused on domain hacks. New rules would allow big brands or those with deep pockets to own domains ending in virtually anything they want, like .nyc, .place, or … [Read more...]
One Year Into Google Panda; And It Still Isn’t Over Yet
The one-year anniversary of the original Google Panda update has come and gone and we’re still seeing significant tweaks in the aftermath . Google Panda was aimed at filtering out and eliminated junk content sites and/or sites heavily supported from ads by penalizing them for having poor content. While Google can’t physically remove data from a website, they sure can effectively prevent the masses from finding them by rating them lower than those with content perceived to be … [Read more...]
A Close Look at Quality Launch Reviews at Google Inc. (Video)
Each week (on Thursdays), Google engineers meet to go over anticipated changes and improvements intended to be rolled out onto Google.com. It is interesting to see how much detail goes into each of these decisions. Whether or not a new component will be added to Google search, is decided in these meetings, this one on misspellings and rolling out a change to Suggested Search. Google recently released a list of 50 changes on its blog “Inside Search” which stated: “We’re … [Read more...]
Easily Detecting NoFollow Links With Internet Explorer
There are many tools, plugins and browser add-ons for detecting NoFollow links but most display the data all the time regardless of whether or not you actually want to know about it at that time. I prefer this IE favorite bookmark because it doesn’t work unless I want it to, and when I do, it’s just one click away from detecting the NoFollow tag on web pages. When clicked on it highlights links with NoFollow red within the page. To save this tool into your IE browser do … [Read more...]
What’s Google Doing Now? The “New” Google Algorithm
The last couple of years have paved the way for many changes in the field and study of search engine optimization and online marketing. Social media awareness grew significantly in 2011 with many reports being released as to how companies may address new social challenges in the upcoming year. Domain names also took some heat in late December of 2010 as Google publically released information on the fact that they would reduce the benefit to ranking sites in their search … [Read more...]
Google’s Move To Encrypt Search Referrals
Everyone on the planet should boycott Google Analytics, but Google knows no one will. Google Analytics isn’t about delivering a great free stats program to users. It’s about using Webmasters for learning about their traffic and Google’s competitors. Google built an exceptional tool for Webmasters who are willing to share all their web sites information with Google in order to use the “free” Analytics system, including users time on site, user locations, referring sites, … [Read more...]
Just 1 Reason To Grab A Great Domain Name Right Now
If the video posted below doesn't get you a little excited about domain names, I really don't know what would. Having the right domain name for your business can be pricelist, and this video will detail just how far some veteran domainers are willing to go inorder to get their hands on the right name. I read a quote recently from domain investor Frank Schilling. He said “On the Internet, the domain name is equivalent to Gold. It is the only packaged item online which is … [Read more...]
Google’s +1 Feature Poised To Take Over Internet
Google released its Google+ network just a month ago and it is already estimated to have twenty million users. Those who better understand the significance of Google +1 see the writing on the wall, and those who don't will soon follow suit. Here is a few reasons why I predict +1 will continue to grow - and grow quickly. 1 - When people click +1, their connections will find those pages easier. Not everyone realizes it yet, but once people hit the +1 button either on … [Read more...]