What is Google Search Wiki?
If you happened to use Google last night, you might have noticed a few [[
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/searchwiki-make-search-your-own.html|changes to the search interface]]. There are now 3 buttons that users can use to promote, remove, or comment on a particular search listing.
After a search item is promoted, it will appear on the first page of your search results whenever you search for that term again.
These promotions have no effect on other users search results, just your own.
You can also comment on search results.
These comments are public comments, and as such, anyone can see them. So choose your words carefully!
In order to take advantage of these features, you must be a registered, signed in Googler.
What's the point of the Search Wiki?
According to Google's official blog, the Search Wiki is "an example of how search is becoming increasingly dynamic, giving people tools that make search even more useful for them in their daily lives." Basically, Google has officially brought mainstream search into the realm of Web 2.0 - where users can interact with and shape the information presented to them. In this instance, Google becomes a poor man's [[
www.delicious.com|Delicious]], or [[
www.digg.com|Digg]]. You can "bookmark" your favorite sites by promoting them in the search result page, and you can remove them alltogether.
What are the implications for SEO professionals?
The simple answer is that it's hard to say. While it's easy for
SEO pros to take a sky is falling approach to this development, it may not be the best reaction. True, users now have the capability to completely ignore your hard work by promoting their favorites and removing those they don't like. That said, it's questionable how many users will use this feature. According to a recent poll conducted on Search Engine Roundtable, 85% believe the average search user is not ready for the Search Wiki.
Personally, I think this only reinforces an idea promoted by marketers as a whole - content is king. If your site has good content, you have nothing to worry about. Searchers will find value in your site, interact with it, and pass it along to others. If, however, your site lacks content and end user value - you will ultimately be penalized for it. Does this make jobs harder for SEO pros? Perhaps. Is it a necessary development in search technology? Yes. Markerters have to realize that consumers are more marketing savvy then ever before - and as information becomes more available, that knowledge level will only increase. It's time to start getting used to a smart consumer.
After a search item is promoted, it will appear on the first page of your search results whenever you search for that term again.
These promotions have no effect on other users search results, just your own.
You can also comment on search results.
These comments are public comments, and as such, anyone can see them. So choose your words carefully!
In order to take advantage of these features, you must be a registered, signed in Googler.
