Google Labs is experimenting with a voting system for their search result pages.

From the official page:
“This experiment lets you influence your search experience by adding, moving, and removing search results. When you search for the same keywords again, you’ll continue to see those changes. If you later want to revert your changes, you can undo any modifications you’ve made. Note that this is an experimental feature and may be available for only a few weeks.”

Basically, when you type in a search phrase, you’ll automatically have the option to “vote” for results that you like better. Clicking on the arrow button for a result means that you “like it”, thus moving the marked result at the top of the page (it is indicated with an orange asterisk as shown in the picture on the left). If you “don’t like” a result, you can click the X button and you won’t see that particular result when you use the same search phrase again.

This feature is currently in its experimental stage, so the Google gods only know how long it will be available and what aspects of this project will be permanently incorporated into the search engine.

If implemented, what does this mean for SEO?

Here are some things you should think about before you redo your entire SEO strategy for the sake of this new feature:

• It’s still experimental. This means that this feature could only be temporary, or that it isn’t in its final version yet. What Google finally ends up with might surprise you, so while you may speculate endlessly, plan for several possible scenarios and implement your new tactics only when the feature is made permanent.
• This is only available to users with Google accounts. Even then, not all people with Google accounts are logged in when they perform regular searches. Also, if these Gmail statistics are any indication of the numbers and demographics of Google account holders, you’ll see that they don’t have the biggest market share overall. Plus, their demographics compose of people aged 18-34 , tech-savvy, and have a relatively higher income than the average Yahoo or Hotmail user. If this isn’t your market, you needn’t be too concerned. Here are some other interesting statistics.
• There’s no social networking aspect. I’ve seen other blogs compare this feature to Digg, but that’s a bit misleading. It’s a similar voting system, yes, but it’s private. There isn’t any hint of social networking – yet. Only you can see your personalized results, and, as far as I can tell, there’s no way for you to broadcast your votes through your Google account.
• People might still figure out a way to exploit this for SEO purposes. I’m not sure how to do this yet, because the customized search results are private, but I’m sure some SEO genius out there will find some flaw in Google’s voting system.
• Creating well-maintained, unique sites with great content is still the way to go if you want more stable long term success. Happy end users and a strong readership is what makes websites successful in the long run. This is something that many website publishers and search engines agree with.

What are your thoughts on Google’s voting system? Have any of you tried it? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments.

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“Why can’t I be number 1?” “Why am I always behind (insert site here)?”

“How do they do it? Why can’t I do it?”

Sounds familiar? If you find yourself in a similar situation, it’s time to change tactics. So don your spy glasses and your trench coat as we embark on a journey called “competitive analysis.”

Competitive analysis is the process of discovering what makes other sites tick. Some call it spying but that’s such an ugly word. Let’s stick with competitive analysis shall we? The main idea behind competitive analysis is to find out what steps did the other camp do to reach a better ranking. Ready to walk on tip-toes? Then read on.

1) Check out the source – the source code of your competitor’s site may provide you with a plethora of information. From the metadata, to the actual content, careful scrutiny might just reveal what keywords they are targeting or software they are using

2) Bring out the tools of the trade – If you struck out with the source code, you can try using the different available programs around the Internet, like the Keyword Density Analysis tool to bring possible keyphrases that they are focusing on. There are also several free and paid SEO tools that help you analyze websites in-depth. This includes SEO Spyglass, WebCEO, etc. Use these tools to cross-examine the competition.

3) Know who they’re working with – Snoop around and see who are linking your competitor’s site. No need to be obvious about your activities, a simple search from Google or Yahoo can reveal this information.

If all goes well, after the stake out, you should have in your hands the information that you need. From keywords to possible backlinks, all you need to do now is to analyze and decide which are worth keeping. Applying them to your site is just one way of using the information gathered. Just remember, mum’s the word.

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Everybody’s buzzing about SEO. Like a lover it promises the earth, the sun, and the sky, which, for web masters, equates to higher ranking, higher exposure, and ultimately, higher profit. But here’s a general truth: not everyone likes to read, especially when it’s littered with technical jargon like SEO books are. If you’re the type who gets dizzy after reading the first page, I’m giving you an alternative: free online video tutorials. So get off your lazy ass and put that popcorn in the microwave. It’s time for some serious video marathon.

Eyeflow

If it’s basic you want, then it’s Eyeflow you must see. Eyeflow contains video tutorials that introduce what SEO is and what are the different basic elements involved in the SEO process. Explained by segments, it introduces the crucial players of SEO; keywords, links, and some dos and don’ts in the SEO arena.

SEOBOOK

Worthy of mention is another free video tutorial site named SEOBOOK. It features the basics of SEO as well as different topics that would help you in your quest for a higher rank. The main site itself shows only a few of the available tutorials by SEOBOOK. The bulk of the guides are housed under YouTube. Click on the YouTube profile link and view all 19 guides ranging from the most basic to the advanced techniques as well as reviews of tools to let you stay ahead in the SEO race.

GSINC

Another site with comprehensive tutorials available in the Net for free is GSINC. Here, SEO consultant Gareth Davies discusses search engine optimization basics, as well as tips and tricks to get you fast-tracked. He talks about most of the important topics dealing with SEO, from keywords to backlinks as well as search engine features, and how to use them to your own advantage.

Do you know of other SEO video tutorials that I haven’t listed? Please let me know via the comments to share them with the other readers.

(Unless you’re so secretive about your resources )

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