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 Google Apologizes. There's been a lot of anger and frustration since the Florida Updates. Apparently, Google understands the fact that people's businesses rely on Google results. Craig Nevill-Manning, Google's Senior Research Scientist, said, for what it's worth, "I apologize for the roller coaster. We're aware that changes in the algorithm affect people's livelihoods. We don't make changes lightly." Well, at least that's good to know. Read more statements here. An Exclusive Interview. Yesterday, I caught up with Marissa Mayer, the Director of Consumer Web Products at Google, and asked, “What should people do if their sites were totally dumped from Google?” She replied, “If you dropped in rankings, go back and look at who you linked to and who’s linking to you. If any of these people are using spam techniques, they're the reason your site no longer appears on Google.” “Does this mean that the new algorithm somehow measures the ‘neighborhood’ you're linked into more highly?” Smiling, Marissa told me she couldn’t answer that question, because it’s a direct statement about the new Google algorithm. We'll take that as a yes. :) Looking for ways to boost your Google ranking? Marissa says, "Have unique useful content. Have sitemaps. Make your site easy to reach with a text-based browser. Give your site a hierarchal structure. Have a single domain with mini-sites within, rather than having lots of sites." Usability is a Must! Marissa says, "It's a good idea to design sites that are usable from any browser. That's something that Google may be taking into consideration - your cross-browser compatibility." Check out WebProWorld's Accessibility and Usability Forum for more tips! Will Google Ever Get the Spam Situation Under Control? Greg Boser, president of WebGuerrilla LLC, doesn't think so. He says, "It's sixty engineers versus sixty thousand spammers - I like those odds!" Meanwhile, Craig advises searchers to continue reporting spam and irrelevant search results since Google are "constantly seeking feedback on results to the search. So where's the love? Despite the overwhelming anti-Google sentiment I've noticed here at Search Engine Strategies, there's plenty of Google love to be found in Bruce Clay, owner and president of http://www.bruceclay.com. Bruce is proud to be a Google fan and has very bright hopes for the future. "I love Google," he told me. "When they clean this up it will stabilize the Google index so well that it will validate the entire search engine optimization industry better than ever before." Be sure to check out our sister site WebProWorld for full coverage from Search Engine Strategies. I'll also be providing an in-depth review of the three-day event soon, so stay tuned! Garrett + WebProNews Team |
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Tell Site Visitors What To Do  By
Nick UsborneYour site visitors make all the choices when it comes to browsing the Web.  No
other medium gives users, readers or customers such control over their own experience.
TV, radio and print present information in a very linear, controlled way. But
on the Web, there is no telling how your next visitor will experience your site.
Where will they click? Which pages will they visit? It's hard to tell. Being sensitive to the fact that the user is in control, many sites simply present as many options as possible on their home pages. The thinking apparently being that the more choices you show on page one, the more likely you are to present something that connects with as many visitors as possible.  Click
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