The Maine SEO Blog

I recently watched the Searchology Webinar about all of the new Google products – some of which have already been released - and others, like Squared, are just now live.

Let’s get right into it, shall we?

First off – what is Squared good for? Well, topics you’d normally have to do multiple searches for. Essentially, Squared creates a spreadsheet of like information and compares similar results for your query.

For example, I did a Squared search for “large dogs”, as I’ve been looking for one of late.

You’ll see there is no Labrador Retriever – the breed I decided on – included in this Square. So what can I do? Click down at the bottom of the first column to add an item, type in my addition and bada-bing-bada-boom, there we go:

Likewise: the cocker spaniel? Not a large dog. Simply hit the X and that row is gone!

You can also add and remove columns. I don’t care as much about the country of origin, but I’d really like to know more about the dogs’ coat lengths or dispositions. I simply add those columns!

How about changing values? The Collie’s weight is listed in kg, and I’d like to compare all of the weights in lbs. Simply mouse over the square, and choose “other values” and find what you’re looking for!

There are still kinks to work out – where some searches don’t work out well. But, for the most part, Squared helps reduce the number of searches you need to make in a given category.

Nicki Hicks
Save time and square it 

It’s funny how something like a flu strain can cause such a ruckus in search.

Google Search

Google Insights for search gives some really helpful data – including the recent trends in the “flu” category. Below the graph, you’ll find “rising searches”, which is great for brainstorming hot keywords for copy or blogging.

Twitter

Twitter search gives real time hot topics – whether it’s an epidemic or hashtag glorification.

Facebook

Facebook groups and fan clubs are the perfect spot to find out what’s hot now.

YouTube

You don’t have to go searching far for that latest videos and newscasts on the swine flu from YouTube.

iPhone

Even iPhone apps are getting a new addition via IntuApps.

Nicki Hicks
The bacon phenomenon has finally caught up with us

Mobile searches are becoming the norm, not the exception.  Optimizing for mobile as well as computer browsers is becoming a necessity, not a choice.  So what can you do to increase your mobile visibility?

1. Install Google Webmaster Tools. They’ll be able to tell you right off the bat whether or not your site can be accessed via smart phones.



2. Optimize for Local Search. Now that GPS is replacing the need to have physical map books, and most of us can no longer function without it (myself included), it’s crucial to be found.



3. Have easy-to-access contact information. Always include your contact information both on your site (in the footer is the cleanest place) and in your meta-description so that mobile searchers can click to either email or call you directly from the SERP!



4. Upload your videos to YouTube. Sometimes, smart phones have trouble indexing and loading large sites that don’t already have a specially equipped smart phone counterpart. By uploading a YouTube video, you guarantee that your site can be accessed via mobile devices; plus be found on YouTube!



5. Create an App. Apps are expensive to develop.  However, they get your name out there the second they’re created!

Nicki Hicks
I’m not craving pizza or anything

Last year, Google released Chrome.  It was highly anticipated and, yes, has a lot of great features.  It’s also gotten a general “so-so” reaction.  But after four months, has anyone said “Wow. That really turned out to be the best browser!”?  Not so much.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge advocate for Google.  This just makes me ask: Google, why not stick to what you’re good at?  Remember that little monopolistic situation you’ve got going on in Search?

Isn’t it a basic rule of good business and the inevitable death of so many in niche industries: don’t try to do a bunch of things mediocre, just do one thing really, really good? (Disclaimer: I’m in no way saying Google is mediocre.)

I still have two major issues:

1. There is still no Mac version. (I may or may not be edging bitter with that one…)
2. My FireFox extensions are still near and dear.

But don’t take my word for it.  Take a look at the numbers….

Graph from Wikipedia.

I think these numbers will speak more highly than my rant – just over 1% of people use Chrome.  But I have to wonder…what would browser usage look like had Chrome been released before Firefox 3?

Nicki Hicks
Who could resist a cute, cuddly fox for a mascot?

Social media has a thing or two to say about politics and the two major presidential candidates’ stake in the race.  Putting aside Facebook, MySpace, and other indicators of who is winning the internet war, Twitter has proven to be an interesting gauge of this race.

Obviously Obama’s staff stays far more up-to-date on his Twitter profile.  Not only that, but take a look at the difference in followers.  Needless to say, I think this proves a fundamental difference between Democrats, Republicans, and their web use (or maybe just Twitter use).

Nevertheless, a cool tool called twInfluence shows exactly how much influence a Twitterer (or is it Tweeter?) has on fellow Twits/Tweetees (sorry, getting carried away with all of the names I can make).  BarackObama is #1 on this list, while JohnMcCain doesn’t show up in the top 50.

At first, this doesn’t seem all that fantastic or interesting.  You may be thinking: “So what, Obama supporters like Twitter more. Big deal.”  The interesting part comes in when Googling both of their names (and by the way, I turned off my personalized settings when I made these searches).

Barack’s profile turns up #10:

McCain’s profile took a little longer to find, down on the 5th page, #58:

Oh wait a second.  That’s not John McCain’s official Twitter account.  Guess I have to keep looking…oh here it is! 8th page, #82:

Whether Twitter has a significant role in this race, I highly doubt it.  However, search may very well have a large part in it:

Nicki Hicks
Vote for Twitter

Monday marked the release of the newest search engine rumored to overthrow Google: Cuil.  I gave it a few days to test it out.  I waited mostly because so many people were on it that I got too frustrated and stopped searching.  As far as I can tell, the SEO world is in an uproar over it, and negative comments abound.  I though giving it a solid chance would help…not so much.

Perhaps I’m just a Googler at heart, but Cuil, as for countless others, was a big let down for me.  Now that the speed is a little quicker, I’m still not impressed with the search quality.  I don’t know what is in Cuil’s algorithms, but the pages they have indexed seem to be older (when I searched for my name a search result came up from a page at my alma mater that I know for a fact was updated – where my name was removed – not less than six months ago.)

The one actual cool thing about Cuil (pardon the pun) is the image links partnered with text links.  However, this leads again to their downfall: Rich was telling me just this morning how in searching for his own name, Cuil’s search engine result page (SERP) showed a picture result of his flyte baby picture coupled with a text search result of an article about Rich Brooks, the football coach.  Further down the SERP, you’ll find a photo of the Coach Brooks with a story about my boss.  I run into the very same problem nearly every time I perform a search…not cool, Cuil, not cool.

So, Google, fear not.  I think I can confidently say you are safe through yet another newly released search engine.  Mike Moran from Search Engine Guide wrote about Cuil in this blogpost. Moran suggested that whatever site overthrows Google will not be another search engine, but a social network perhaps.  I knew one day Facebook would rule the world…or will it be Twitter…?

Nicki Hicks
Hardcore Googler