Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG) This News Blog is dedicated to bringing news, information and innovations targeting the Search Engine Optimisation industry.	Editor: Matt Paines blog@xseo.com

18 Nov05

Google SERPs, read them an' weep!

However Google has left your site in its index, Jagger would appear to be all over. The SERPs have been fairly stable for the last 48 hrs and the datacentres have, on the most part, assumed a degree of normality. If these current results survive until Monday it is safe to assume these results are the shape of things to come.
Interestingly there are some notable changes to the pre-Jagger results. It is early stages in the post mortem but we are seeing that the art of "google bombing", whilst still a significant factor, is not as powerful as it once was. We are also seeing for certain search phrases a degree of convergence with the other two major search engines, MSN and Yahoo, which implies Google is focusing on content a little more. ...goodbye link and blog spammers it's been fun!

16 Nov05

Is Jagger all done?

Again there is much discussion as to whether the Jagger Updates are over. There are times when I'd agree it appears that it is, then all of a sudden I look again and the SERPs have completely changed. For the last 3 days, the results we are seeing from around 8am to about 6pm are not the same as those from 6pm to 8am. So is Jagger over? I fear not.

Adv

7 Nov05

Jagger 3 preview.

The long wait to see the conclusion of Google's three updates is now close. And thank fully the preview datacentre 66.102.9.104 is showing some indications of normality. I cannot confirm that the results on this test datacentre are going to definitely be the ones Google will implement, because Google being Google will always do as they please and keep us all guessing.
-----Update 8 Nov. The preview server has now reverted to Jagger 2 results.

3 Nov05

Jagger 3 not ready.

Yesterday, after the announcement from Google that Jagger 3 would start Mid Week, the forums were a wash with people watching datacentres in the hope to spot the first one displaying the new search results. We find out today that Google technical have asked for an extension, Jagger 3 just ain't ready to unleash on the planet. ...I hope that means it's going to be good news!

3 Nov05

Yahoo update.

This week Yahoo has announced it has been making updates to it's index. The last was yesterday, Tim Mayer of Yahoo! Search said that whilst the update was fairly small it would impact the ranking of some sites. We haven't seen any major changes but if you have been caught out, let us know how.

1 Nov05

XSEO scoops Top10 SEO award.

XSEO has been selected by the PromotionWorld's award panel to be one of the "Top10 SEO Company" for November 2005. The Top 10 SEO Company Awards are based on the offered services, package diversity, value, customer service, feedback and website popularity of the selected companies....Thanks guys!

31 Oct05

Jagger the final chapter.

Rumours are rife that the final part of the trilogy "jagger 3" will start mid week, probably taking a couple of days. Is this the one that will fix Google's results to make sense again? Is this a revival or just another sequel? Will the search giant ignore its users and continue the same course come what may? ...Can't wait to see how the week unfolds!

31 Oct05

Yahoo! search results up.

Whilst Google have been playing, it is being reported that the number of searches in Yahoo! is up. We are certainly seeing an increase in traffic referrals from both Yahoo and MSN. Whilst the numbers don't compensate for the fall in Google results the increase in usage is significant. Watch out Google, remember AltaVista?

28 Oct05

Jagger 2 in full swing.

Over the last couple of days we have been witnessing some changes in Googles datacentres. This morning they have gone into complete spasm. It is widely accepted that stage 2 is underway.
An interesting theory was muted by one of our techies this week. Google's results are so bad at the moment that perhaps this is a way of cleansing the index by turning off the filters and inviting user spam reports. Read more

26 Oct05

Jagger Update continues.

We understand that the Google Jagger update will be in 3 parts. The first we have seen, the 2nd will be due any time now, and the 3rd update next week. I sincerely hope this is the case, Google's once legendary accuracy has definitely taken a dive in Jagger 1. More about Jagger.

21 Oct05

Jagger Update direction is clearer.

We are told by Google that the update is likely to take another couple of weeks, however early indications point to the main casualties of Jagger being those sites with optimised content- yes generally those that had top listings before due to content optimisation have fallen the furthest; those relying on other factors haven't fallen as far. In other words it hates webspam. Read more about the Jagger Update.

20 Oct05 5.30pm

Google BackLink Update.

And so it continues Google has now released a BackLink update. Waiting for Google is like waiting at a bus stop nothing for ages and then load come along all at once. What a week!

20 Oct05 4.30pm

Google Update has a name.

Like the "florida update" in November 2003, the current update has been given a name; the "jagger update". Named perhaps 'cos "you ain't going to get no satisfaction" .....I know, I know, don't give up the day job.

20 Oct05

Google PR Update.

From Monday this week Google's index has been somewhat curious, as if that wasn't enough, Google has today launched it's latest PageRank update. We understand that Google may well, over the next few days, be instigating a BackLink update as well. We also understand that the new SERPs filters applied will continue to be in evaluation mode for the next few weeks. So if your site was one of the 100,000's of casualties, take heart that where you are now will not necessarily be where you end up. View the PageRank Update history

17 Oct05

Google SERPs in free fall.

It's Monday morning the start of another week, and Google has turned it's SERPs upside down. All is not clear at the moment, we are waiting to see if the results being shown currently are those that are here to stay. There is a hive of activity in the forums, some SEO's are saying this is Florida Mk2 "the one we've all been dreading". The changes in SERPs have been significant, just like Florida in Nov 2003. It has been noted that quite a number of directory sites have risen in the SERPs, at the expense of sites that fulfill the search criteria. If indeed that is the case then with luck, like Florida, the filters will be turned down over the coming weeks and months. Read Google SERPs in free fall.

10 Oct05

Domain expiry and Spam.

A recent telephone conversation reminded me that until now I'd not blogged on an issue relating to a Google Patent from March 2005. The patent discusses the process of identifying whether a domain is legitimate, or indeed a spam doorway. It notes that legitimate domains are often paid for several years in advance, while doorway domains are rarely used for more than a year.Therefore, the date when a domain expires can be used as a factor in assessing a domains legitimacy. You should register domains for a minimum of two years but five years is more advisable.

Adv

3 Oct05

Search in the work place.

Employers are realising the power of the internet as a marketing tool. So much so that a huge number of employees now have direct access to the internet from their desk. Whilst this has many commercial advantages to the employer, the use, or abuse, by employees whilst on company time continues to grow.
Read more.

22 Sept05

SEO Tutorials Update.

The latest updated version of the Free SEO Tutorials are now available, new features are an explanation of Google's infamous PageRank coupled with an explanation of some of the new filters the engines are applying.
Get the SEO Tutorials

19 Sept05

Virtual Earth's mapping of Katrina Tragedy.

MSN have been working with partner Pictometry to capture areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. A statement released by Sean Carver of MSN "After talking with the people on the ground supporting relief efforts, it became apparent that the lack of information about the status of homes and buildings was hampering relief efforts. Getting new images of the area and displaying them alongside pictures of the area before the hurricane - will give evacuees the opportunity to view the damage to their homes and property and give local agencies an easier way to determine which areas were hardest hit so they can prioritize cleanup. We also hope this will also assist insurers and agencies in verifying claims in determining which areas were hardest hit so they can prioritize cleanup." http://msnbc.msn.com/apps/ve/katrina.htm?a=1/Those interested in opportunities to donate can do so at https://donate.msn.com/pages/landing.html

16 Sept05

Search Do's and Don'ts.

During a recent telephone conversation I began to realise that not enough is broadcast to site owners about the do's and don'ts with regard to search engine optimisation. The three main engines all publish their own do's and don'ts which are available from the following: Google SEO Guidelines MSN SEO Guidelines Yahoo SEO Guidelines. However I thought it useful to re-highlight some of the comments made by Google's Matt Cutts and Rahul Lahiri from ASK at the SES Conference in New York for those that didn't see it the first time. Search do's and don'ts.

12 Sept05

BackLink Update.

Over the weekend Google updated it's backlinks.

5 Sept05

Conspiracy theory.

The latest SERPs (search engine results page) results from Google have fueled further speculation that the search engine giant's natural search is biased towards the big brands, leaving the "mom and pop" sites with little or no prospect of high search engine listings. The fact is that for a site to score well it has to have authority, and yes many of Google's filters will trip up all but the largest, oldest and most popular sites. Read more.

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