Despite Google’s “innocent” entry into the realm of social networking at the end of June, it quickly became apparent that Google+ was a legitimate competitor for Facebook. Plus immediately received acclaim for its improved privacy and sharing controls (Circles), its video conferencing feature (Hangouts), and its group messaging service (Huddle). But Facebook has a big […]
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Google +1 Now Shares, Provides Snippets
On June 1st, Google announced their first 2011 social feature: the Google +1 button. Previously, it had been rumored that +1 was the Google social network, so the SEO community was largely disappointed with the announcement. That didn’t stop webmasters from implementing the +1 button on their sites, however; over the three months that the […]
How Google Changes Their Algorithm
Google’s Evaluation Team at a Launch Decision Meeting When any webmaster first enters the realm of SEO, they’re likely to run into the term “Google algorithm.” The Google search algorithm is a complex mathematical equation that looks at more than 100 metrics to determine how a site should rank. Beyond being a non-public and thoroughly […]
How Strong Is Google’s Filter Bubble, Really?
Eli Parser made a big splash in a 2010 TED talk where he discussed a phenomena he called the “filter bubble.” According to Parser, modern technology – and especially Google search – were putting us at risk. The threat, of course, was the worst one of all: Ourselves. Thanks to the personalization of search results, […]
Bing Tells Users Its Core SEO Principles
Bing is becoming a force to reckoned with. Since their Yahoo search alliance last year, Bing has managed to take a combined 30% of the search market in the U.S. The migration of Yahoo search to a Bing back-end on a global scale in increasing that power. Now more than ever, it’s important that webmasters […]
YouTube Launches New Music Platform
YouTube recently reached a settlement with several major music publishers who filed a class action lawsuit in 2007. Not coincidentally, Google used this opportunity to launch a new music platform inside of YouTube. The new music page includes recommendations based on what you’re already listening to, local concerts, information on the most popular songs on […]
Bing-Yahoo Alliance Expands to 7 Additional Countries
Yahoo and Bing are a powerful combined force, and have been the only real threat to Google since the Bing-Yahoo “search alliance” that began last year. In the initial phases, Bing and Yahoo joined together only in the U.S. However, they quickly expanded to numerous additional key areas. This year, Yahoo is planning to migrate […]
Google+ Seeps Into the Public Vision
Despite being launched as a closed beta, Google+ (the social network from the world’s search engine giant) managed to win over a massive customer base. After just four weeks of limited availability, Plus had garnered 25 million users. While there haven’t been official numbers released in the three weeks since, it’s becoming increasingly clear that […]
Google’s Panda Spreads to New Languages
“Panda,” Google’s major search algorithm change that was released in the U.S. earlier this year, has had a major impact on the way we interact with search. However, it has taken a long time to spread to all users. As of this week, Panda’s conquest is almost complete: the algorithm updates are in effect for […]