Ok, so it wasn’t just me that noticed a change in the Google website! After doing some research into the latest changes I came up with some new findings.
Google has now converged its search space so that when we do a search on Google, instead of just showing the most relevant search for information on another website, it now shows a convergence of everything including, news sites, blogs, video and anything else it deems relevant to that particular search request.
“It’s breaking down the silos of information that have been built up,” says Marissa Mayer, Vice President of the search and user experience area at Google. “It’s broad long term vision will unfold over the next few years.”
Sergey Brin called it "the largest revamp we've made to search in years."
Interesting stuff! But what does this mean to us?
Well for one, "YouTube" a company purchased by Google for $1.65 billion in 2006, will now have even more exposure in search as video gets indexed.
It also means (according to Google) "a better search experience."
How will this effect Search Engine Marketing Companies?
This will effect the way search engine optimization companies do their work. How so? Well since Google is now looking at more then just one angle in its search relevance, all of these other areas that have now been thrown into the arena will now be attractive venues to ensure SEO companies are promoting.
These new enhancements mean that search engine marketing will now take on an even bigger focus. This means more services, more content and more to promote.
Is this a good change?
I think anything that improves the search experience helps us. Do I think this is a good move by Google? Well --- I think anything that improves the search experience is a big plus. I am sure Google has done it's homework and tested the market but I do think an element of risk exists when a company fundamentally changes the medium that got them to where they are.
We will all wait and see how this unfolds. Google has developed its own loyal base of watchers that act and react according to every shake and rattle done by the company. In the end, we all just need to be assured of Google's basic premise ‘not to be evil.’
on
We colud’ve done with that insight early on.
on
Yes, this did relate in a better search experience on Google back then and I really appreciated it. Whether Google is evil or not remains to be seen. There have been a lot of both good and bad things said about Google, it’s search options and it’s privacy or lack of. It’s good that we have other options as well like Bing which has a really good video search where you can actually see a video right from the search (you don’t actually need to click a link).
All these things will just help us, the users, as the big guys will strive to improve based on their competition.
on
I guess videos are the way to go. Is this why when I click on a Yahoo news link now it almost always takes me to a video, when sometimes I just want to read a news story? Granted, the story is usually underneath, but there are times when I just don’t want all of the flashing lights! I think I’m getting old!!!
on
Yes, I noticed the same thing! What does this mean to all bloggers? The way I see it, adding video to your usual text-only pages has become a total must. I noticed some sites jumping from being ranked in the 1000’s jump to number one just by posting a video. Anyone else notice the same thing lately?