Google's Personalized Search vs. SEO?
19:12, Tuesday, 08 December 2009
Much has been made, in recent days, of Google's personlized search, and what it means for SEO experts and their Business Owner clients alike. Firstly, for those to whom this is new information, Google has recently rolled out functionality to allow users more relevance and accuracy between the searches they make and the listings they see in the SERP's (Search Engine Results/Rankings Pages). Here's a short video on how it works:
Not only has Google enabled this for used who are "logged in" to their Google account, but also to those not logged in, via cookie storage and web history logs that can go back as far as 9 months. Some see this as a massive invasion of privacy, whereas Google insist it is a measure meant to improve their offering, and the experience of its myryad users.
Regardless of your opinion on the methods, Personalized Search is seemingly here to stay. So with so many users getting personalized results, how, as an SEO, do you target the top positions for your clients? The top positions, after all, could be different for everyone!
The general concensus is that there's little to be concerned about. Relevance in search, along with well-formed page content and descriptions, will encourage clickthroughs from the SERP's, and ensure top positioning DUE TO personalized search! What seemed like a challenge just moments ago now seems like one to be relished. Regardless of what Google does to enhance/degrade their products, a good SEO will move with the times, and make the best of the opportunities that present themselves for their clients.
Tags: seo,google