Topic: Search engine optimization

Bing Gets Technical: Rolls Out Code, Software Download & Microsoft-Related Search Updates

Aiming to make its search results more “developer friendly,” Bing says it has streamlined API, code and non-alphanumeric queries, made software download searches safer and added instant answers to the top of search results for Microsoft-related technology queries. Using a side-by-side comparison against Google search results for a “c# hashtag example” query, Bing illustrated how […]

SEO Industry Tweets Its Reactions To Google’s SSL Ranking Boost

The SEO industry is abuzz today with the news of Google’s latest ranking signal: Using SSL certificates will provide a boost in Google’s search rankings. (The web hosting industry is all abuzz, too, if you’re curious.) Google says it’s a “very lightweight signal” for now, but one that may become stronger over time because Google […]

SEO

Google Starts Giving A Ranking Boost To Secure HTTPS/SSL Sites

Google To Give Secure Sites A Ranking Boost Google has announced that going HTTPS — adding a SSL 2048-bit key certificate on your site — will give you a minor ranking boost. Google says this gives websites a small ranking benefit, only counting as a “very lightweight signal” within the overall ranking algorithm. In fact, Google […]

Google+ Authorship Images Live On

Search engine optimization professionals were caught off-guard back in June when Google’s John Mueller announced that the search giant would be “simplifying” the way authorship is displayed in search results. This simplification involved the removal of profile photos and circle counts from the search listings of pages with authorship enabled. We all know the author […]

Bing Mobile Domain Returns Service Unavailable 503 Error

If you try to access Bing Mobile at m.bing.com, you will be presented with an error message. The error will read: The page you want isn’t available We’re working to restore service as soon as possible. The server error code also returns a major error, specifically a 503 error code which means the service is […]

SearchCap: Google Drops Author Stats, Google Shopping Merchants Ship & Reconsideration Requests

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: For More Accurate Shipping Rates In Google Shopping, Merchant Center Gets Shipping Configuration Tool Google launched new features today to help merchants customize the shipping rates that display in Google Shopping. […]

Google Now Showing Full Text Of Original Reconsideration Requests In Webmaster Tools

Google is now showing those who submit reconsideration requests, their original reconsideration request when Google documents that they’ve received it. Google shows this within Google Webmaster Tools messages are. Previous, Google would just confirm they received it and then hopefully respond a few days later with their findings. But now, Google is not just confirming […]

Google Mobile Testing Search Results Snippet Descriptions

Google is testing showing site and search results description snippets in the mobile search results interface. Google launched site description overlays in the desktop results earlier this year and now it appears to be coming to mobile results. I personally cannot replicate it but @northeasternext shared several screen shots with me to show this in […]

SEO

Google Quietly Removes Author Stats From Google Webmaster Tools Labs

In December 2011, Google launched author stats within Google Webmaster Tools, giving those who used authorship across sites, statistics on how well their content did. Author stats were unique in that it would show you how many impressions and clicks your content received not on a site by site basis but rather across all sites […]

Google Quick Answers For Jewish Food Blessings

Google is now offering the answers for what blessings observant Jewish people should make prior to consuming food or drinks in their quick answers. The term for blessing in Hebrew is ‘Bracha‘ and if you search for [bracha for yogurt], Google will return a quick answer telling you what the “before” blessing is and the […]

SEO

Google’s Still Lagging On Mobile Search Warnings

No one applauded louder than I did when Google introduced their warning in search results for faulty redirects in June of this year, and then, warnings for Flash earlier this month. It’s definitely a step in the right direction for Google — and for searchers, who have had to endure less than usable mobile search results in Google […]

How To Generate Customer Experience Reviews For SEO – Part II

In part 1, we talked about some practical tips for converting a satisfied customer to a raving fan who is willing to talk about their experience with your service-based company online. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get that fan to talk about your website in a way that benefits your search marketing efforts. Creating […]

Google Testing Timeline View In Knowledge Graph

Google is testing a new knowledge graph interface for showing a timeline of data, facts and knowledge in the top carousel section of the Google search results. Florian Kiersch spotted this first and captured a video of it, posting the video on Google+. The timeline shows you data elements related to your search query. When […]

SearchCap: Google Local Pigeon Update & AdWords Dynamic Sitelinks

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s Pigeon Update Solves Yelp Problem, Boosts Local Directories As the analysis continues on yesterday’s Google local search algorithm changes — that we’re calling the Pigeon update — one thing appears […]

Google’s Pigeon Update Solves Yelp Problem, Boosts Local Directories

As the analysis continues on yesterday’s Google local search algorithm changes — that we’re calling the Pigeon update — one thing appears to be clear: Local directory sites are getting better visibility in Google’s search results. More specifically, it looks like Google has fixed its “Yelp problem” and is now showing Yelp pages at the […]

Google Quick Answers Adds Images

Google’s quick answer results have recently added images to some of the answers. Alex Chitu spotted this and I was able to replicate it for many queries. Such as for [how old is barack obama] to [how many children does michael jordan have?] Here are both desktop views and mobile views of the images in […]

Top Luxury Brands Spent $22 Million On Google Text Ads In The U.S. Last Year [Study]

Paid search research firm, AdGooroo, has analyzed the paid search activity by luxury brands and retailers in the U.S. across five categories: apparel, beauty & cosmetics, shoes, handbags and watches. According to the study, five of the top personal luxury companies spent nearly $22 million on Google AdWords desktop/tablet text ads across their brands in […]

Google Tops Satisfaction Index, Yahoo Sees “Lowest Score Yet”

Once again Google has come out on top of the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The survey measures consumer satisfaction across a broad range of business and product categories including “e-business,” which covers ‘internet portals and search engines.” With the exception of 2007 Google has won the category every year since 2000, although its […]