The search engine Ask.com leaked its server log files, displaying all of its users’ aearch queries to the public. For a few hours today, you searched for a keyword on Ask.com, the public could see what you searched for. [Read more…]
How Much Feedback Does It Take Until Google Responds?
Last week, I had the great opportunity visit Google’s headquarters, attend the Google Dance as a part of the SMX West conference, and talk with many in the industry. There were quite a few great tips that I picked up along the way. [Read more…]
Not All Google Featured Snippets are Informational
Ever since Google started introducing Featured Snippets into their search results, I always thought of Google Featured Snippets as being informational and helpful. And, non-commercial. Well, today my opinion of featured snippets quickly changed when I saw the Google showing a featured snippet for this search query: banking equipment. [Read more…]
Google: There is No Duplicate Content Penalty
According to Gary Illyes, a Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, the Google search engine has no duplicate content penalty. In a Tweet on February 13, 2017, Gary said the following: [Read more…]
Did Chinese Hackers Steal Google’s Organic Search Algorithm?
Have Chinese hackers stolen Google’s search engine secrets? Have they infiltrated the super-secret Google algorithm, allowing them to manipulate Google’s search results? According to a new book by Bill Gertz titled War and Peace in the Information Age, “Chinese cyber-intelligence services had developed technology and network penetration skills allowing them to control the results of Internet searches conducted on Google’s world-famous search engine. [Read more…]
Google Answer Boxes Can Appear in Results for Site Search Queries
Apparently, Google Answer boxes can appear in the search results when performing a site:domain.com type of search in Google. I find this kind of odd, as typically someone isn’t looking for an answer per se when they use the site: search operator at Google.
What is a Google Answer Box?
A Google Answer box is Google’s attempt to give you information in their search results about search query (keyword) so you don’t have to click through to a website to get the answer. Google predicts the answer to your question, scrapes the data from a website, and makes it show up at the top of the search results. This is often referred to ranking 0 (zero) position, before the first result. In most cases, Google will show Google AdWords ads before the answer box.
Here is an example: [Read more…]