Search sites are always changing, and there is always news to be shared.
2009: The impact of social media on search is only as amazing as the changes on the search engines themselves. More to come on MSN's Bing - another step toward personalization of the Web and search results.
2008: Google's Universal search has changed the way we search, and the way we optimize our sites. Universal search brings in all of the content that Google has available, and ranks it accordingly. This makes it even more important to take advantage of the different digital channels; video, podcasts and images are just a few of the types of content that can be optimized for search engines. And it's critical, because that content will be appearing in the search results which will push down your listings.
2007: Social search is here -- and there is far too much to talk about! As marketers learn to use things like Wikis, Swikis, and social tagging on sites such as Del.icio.us, we will start to see a big change. Users are way ahead of us - user generated content and user rated content could make SEO's obselete someday- who knows? As we all take charge of our Internet experience, one thing is certain. Our Web sites have to be a great user experience that will keep visitors coming back again and again (when it is appropriate), and even one-stop visits will need to reflect well on the brand.
2006: It's hard to keep up with everything that is going on! Yahoo has brought out many new tools that are very helpful, such as Site Explorer. Google has added on Webmaster Central, which provides SiteMaps for Google's spiders along with a system that allows you to take a look at spider activity and lots of other cool features. Make sure you at least verify your account so that you can use some of the features, even if you don't use the SiteMap.
Ask.com finally lost their butler Jeeves, and is concentrating on improving search results.
12/05: Google has completed their new update, Jagger. Google has been really busy over the past year, adding Google Analytics, Google Base and Google Site Maps. Google Analytics is a free HTML based Web site analytics program. Google Base is a submission service for all sorts of news or products. Google continues to bring out new products which extend its base and popularity.
2/05: MSN launched their new search engine on their redesigned portal site. MSN results are coming from their own engine, incorporating Overture results as well.
Fall 2004: MSN puts their new search engine into Beta testing.
Spring 2004: Yahoo launched their own search engine and stopped using Google for search results. Yahoo recommends using Overture Site Match to be positioned in their engine, but a free submission is also available.
1/04: Google changed their algorithm in late 2003, and the fallout continues. So far, it seems that most e-com sites are being affected, if they don't have the content to back up the positioning they seek. It seems likely that Google may have used their own AdWords data to determine what words are being purchased, but no one knows the extent of how the data is being used. But this is also another move towards relevancy that shouldn't be ignored. I just wish they would clean up all the spam this shakeup seems to have unearthed.
7/03: Yahoo purchased Overture this summer in a move guaranteed to bring Yahoo even closer to its apparent goal of becoming the #1 search engine and portal again. Although Overture reports there will be no immediate changes, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
3/03: It's been a fairly quiet spring. Overture purchased AltaVista and the Web search unit of FAST in February, giving them their own backbone search engine (Overture has used Inktomi listings in the past).
12/02: Inktomi purchased by Yahoo! - This has to make Google nervous. Google has been providing primary search results on Yahoo for a few months, giving them three out of the top four search sites. It is anticipated that Inktomi results are going to start appearing on Yahoo soon. Might be a good time to take advantage of a service like Positiontech.com and get your site into Inktomi fast! But wonder what MSN will do, once Inktomi results start appearing on Yahoo?
12/02: Take a look at HotBot! Looks like they've turned in a meta search engine, allowing visitors to choose between Google, FAST, Inktomi or Teoma.
10/02: Yahoo changes search results - Yahoo's directory results have taken a backseat to Google's results. Historically, Yahoo has always shown their results first, but now Google is providing primary results. There is some variance in positioning from the Google or AOL engines. Might not be worth maintaining an investment in your Yahoo listing if no one is going to click on the directory results
