May 16, 2007 "SEO 2.0" IS BORN!

[beu]

How will Google's new Universal Search with it's new algorithm, presentation and infrastructure effect SEO? Any thoughts or ideas, just curious as to your feedback?

[Kevin Newcomb]

It looks like it's going to bring both challenges and opportunities. The vertical search results (images, books, etc.) will be taking up a spot on the first page, which means one less web site will show up there.

At the same time, those new verticals present a new avenue into the top results for marketers that know how to create and optimize content for those channels.

It'll also be interesting to see what Marissa Mayer meant when she said, "This opens the door for introducing richer media into the search results pages."

[Marcia]

for introducing richer media into the search results pages."

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[beu]

Originally Posted by Kevin Newcomb

It looks like it's going to bring both challenges and opportunities. The vertical search results (images, books, etc.) will be taking up a spot on the first page, which means one less web site will show up there.

At the same time, those new verticals present a new avenue into the top results for marketers that know how to create and optimize content for those channels.

It'll also be interesting to see what Marissa Mayer meant when she said, "This opens the door for introducing richer media into the search results pages."

Thanks to both for the feedback! I took Marissa as meaning video in SERPS due to the illustration she used for the "I have a dream" search! So, maybe audio and video?

[mcanerin]

I find it interesting that Google is copying Naver.

Ian

[Kevin Newcomb]

Originally Posted by beu

I took Marissa as meaning video in SERPS due to the illustration she used for the "I have a dream" search! So, maybe audio and video?

Sorry, I forgot to put that quote in context. She was answering a question about whether universal search would lead to new advertising formats in the SERPs.

She said the usual "nothing to announce," but left the door open by saying "ads are answers as well," and that she hopes "to bring some of the same advances to ads."

She didn't say they would start showing rich media or video ads in the SERPs, but she didn't say they wouldn't, as they've said in the past.

[rustybrick]

yes, video clips in search results. I see it in the number 6 item for http://www.google.com/search?q=star%20war%20kid

[Big Juice]

If the other specialty search engines (Image, Blog, Video and such) had been able to perform better in terms of generating income I highly doubt that they would be forcing them into the profitable Web Search.

When adding Map results into the organic search results we get fewer and fewer organic listings which means that if you want to be seen at the top of the page, or above the fold, you will need to participate with PPC.

Keeping mind that eye tracking has shown that generally speaking, only the top 3 positions were getting any kind of decent results in terms of traffic and exposure. Don't you find it interesting that even more Google products are showing up in those spots now.

Sure it is their product to present any way they like but just keep in mind, it is OUR websites that they have indexed that helped to build this company and this is the way they repay us, by forcing our sites to take a back seat to their products.

Sorry for the rant here but this smacks as "evil" to me and it doesn't matter how pretty the packaging is, the bottom line here is we are now exposed to more Google Ads and products then we ever were before. To me Google is saying "You will use our products and you WILL LIKE IT!"

[GilbertZ]

Originally Posted by Kevin Newcomb

At the same time, those new verticals present a new avenue into the top results for marketers that know how to create and optimize content for those channels.

It depends how you look at it.
New opportunity, yes...but it's a lot of work to go "out there" instead of building good content at your site and letting Google find it.

It's like McDonalds. You can open an independent restaurant and compete with the big boys. Or you can open a McDonalds and let their name "help you". But you're paying a fee to McDonalds...and the barrier to entry is higher than it used to be, and harder for the independents to succeed.

It's coporatizing search more and more...the big companies have the budgets to pay people to make sure they are seen everywhere. The small guys don't have the resources for it...

So it's good for the big guys and not so good for the small guys...save the few who are tech savvy and know how to take advantage of this "new opportunity".

Darwin rules.

[beu]

True, maybe it will help with separating the "men from the boys"!

Thanks for your all of your thoughts.