Search engine optimisation news - SearchWiki may affect SEO rankings

22 December 2008

A new Google tool called SearchWiki that is designed to improve search results for users may affect future SEO ranking factors including removing results from Google pages.

The recently-launched SearchWiki allows Google users to create a personalised search experience by adding, deleting, re-ranking and commenting on search results.

Google has revealed it may alter generic search results if it made sense to do so. This might happen, for example, if thousands of people decide to remove a particular website or web page result.

Marissa Mayer, the search engine's vice president of search product and user experience, said, "At this time we aren't using SearchWiki to influence ranking but it is easy to see how that could happen in the future."

SEO firms and companies

She said her team has been monitoring people's notes made in SearchWiki and they tend to be more about the relevancy of websites to search terms or keyphrases that are entered.

But Ms Mayer said SearchWiki results will not be influencing the Google algorithm - at least not yet. She reassured search engine optimizer firms (SEOs) - who help companies improve search engine rankings - they do not need to begin manipulating SearchWiki.

When Google implemented universal search, multi-media content such as video and audio was incorporated into search results pages to enhance the search experience. In contrast, SearchWiki provides opportunities for searchers to interact with results pages.

To use the new tool, users must be signed into their Google account. Currently, changes only affect individual searches made by signed in users.

However, notes and comments can be attached to sites that may be viewed by other users, showing how searchers across the world have edited the search results.

Fuse's UK SEO team - based in London, Manchester and Chichester - are closely following development of SearchWiki. Google has established a dedicated team for the tool. The Fuse team believes such focus by the world's biggest search engine company could significantly affect the future of SEO.

Fuse specialise in SEO for law firms, search engine optimisation for accountants and the financial services industry, focusing on - and achieving - high rankings that out-perform competitors. Research shows the large majority of search engine users trust and click on natural, organic search results. The Fuse search engine marketing firm has developed approaches to build long-term, dependable rankings that generate a considerable return on investment for clients.