Google Search Wiki Review Part 3, SEO.
Does Search Wiki Affect Keyword Searches or Website URLs?
Search Wiki only affects keyword searches. If you promote a website to the top for specific keyword, it will not affect search results for other keywords. For example, if you put site1.com as a #1 result for “SEO†and then search for “search engine optimization†you won’t find that site. It will only show up at #1 for “SEO†or other keywords with YOUR modifications.
How Does This Affect Search Engine Optimization?
You only see your own modifications. Users who did not have any modifications for a particular search string see default search results. Matt McGee of Search Engine Land talked to Google and wrote:
Dupont didn’t completely rule out the possibility that user data from SearchWiki may someday impact regular search rankings. I asked what would happen if 10,000 people all added “Matt McGee’s Widget Page†to their own results for the phrase [widget]. “We’re always looking at user data as a signal,†Dupont says. And in a situation like that? “We’re not closing any doors.†- Google SearchWiki 101: An Illustrated Guide
For the moment Google may not place much weight on user comments, and votes, since many users are still experimenting and moving / deleting search results just for the sake of trying the feature. As more users get familiar with Search Wiki, and recognize it, Google may place more value on input.
Time is also an issue. If over a year 10,000 people move site1.com to #1 spot for “mortgageâ€, while other websites for the same query only get 10 – 50 votes, it’s a good sign to give site1.com a chance at number one spot. Google may even do select tests with a number of users and measure how site performs in number #1 spot before giving it out completely.
Expect Search Wiki to affect SEO long term. As always sites with best content win, regardless of technology.
Comments
According to the “Local Search Engine Ranking Factors†by David Mihm, who interviewed 20 SEO experts, customer reviews play an important role in local rankings. Could this become a case with Google Search Wiki?
Page rank formula determines IMPORTNANCE of pages not relevancy. Search Wiki can be also be used to score the importance (not relevancy) of pages, by counting votes, number of comments and deletion.
Spam Â
Search Wiki is quite new, but there’s already been a number of spam incidents in comments. Danny of search engine land successfully voted with multiple Google accounts. As Search Wiki continues to be a Google feature expect some spam storms.
Resources:
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