Why we all use Google for everything

I can't sleep, so I thought I'd blog. In my tired but wide awake state, I suddenly realised why I use Google for pretty much everything, other than my Twittering. Yes it is because it has the best search results, but how much search do I do any more? Yes it's easy to use as well but that's not the reason either.

I use it because it's easy to get to. Simple as that.

Google is set as my home page on IE8. I have Google Toolbar so that means there are already three buttons directly on my browser so I can instantly get to all my Google applications. These simple facts have meant that as every new tool arrives from them I have instant access.

Not rocket science I grant you, but a nice marketing lesson. Make it easy to use if you want it to spread. If you want to reach a niche audience however, maybe making it difficult is the best way?

Google Phone er not quite finished I think

I love all things Google, but they do have a habit of pushing things out a bit too quickly sometimes. Chrome isn't quite there, though I'm sure it soon will be.

They seem to have done the same thing with the Google phone. Their main competition is clearly the iPhone. Now the open source code used on the Google Phone will mean that creating software will be easy and quick and that new iterations can me sorted out very quickly, which is where Apple don't quite get there because they have strict controls over programming which holds them back.

The trick Google have missed is the design element of the Google Phone. It looks old and clumsy when compared to the iPhone or most other designed handsets so its going to lose out. I'm sure they'll get there but they need some some design support. It must be hard for them they're not product designers there are more dimensions than HTML to deal with.

I'm sure the software and the actual phone will be amazing but until it appears on a credible handset to complement it, it's going to struggle.

Google Chrome

Just downloaded Google Chrome and I'm using it to write this post.

At first glance it's very bear. Maybe I'm used to all the clutter of IE and the shock of the new is always a bit off putting. Literally only just loaded it so not had a chance to test it properly.

I'm kind of surprised it doesn't have the functionality of the Google Toolbar built in to it. That seems like a lost opportunity especially as early adopters of this will be SEO and web builders who almost insist on having those tools. Maybe they are for further down the line.

All in all it looks good. I'm going to try using it all day today and see what I think later.

Google launch an IE killer

Google have just announced they are about to launch their own web browser - Chrome.

Just the next step towards the Google virtual desktop as far as I can see. Question is why has it taken them so long to do it? I still use IE can't get used to Firefox. I'll give Chrome a go, I use most Google stuff anyway.

Been lazy!

I was going to write that I'd been to busy to add to the blog. But that's crap, I've been too lazy.

Lots has happened to me, I've got a new job at Direct Relations, a Marketing Agency, and I'm loving my new role of Senior Account Manager.

My laziness has had a strange effect on the PageRank for the blog. Last time I posted the PR was 0. I guessed that Google had been playing about again, the blog was fresh and looked after.

Nearly 5 months later, my PR is suddenly 3! I've done absolutely nothing to the blog. I know age of site is a factor in Google's algorithm but freshness is supposed to be one too.

As ever I have no concrete explanation.

I'm sure a better bet is to keep your site/blog up to date. Being lazy isn't much of a tactic whatever you do!

Google playing with PageRank again

Google appear to be messing about with PageRank again. They've just downgraded themselves to an 8/10, which seems strange. Google is the most used site in the world so how come it's not a 10?

Everything you read tells you to ignore the PageRank as it's out of date and no real indication of the quality of a site. I tend to agree but if that's case why do they still use it?

The real issue is don't sweat the PageRank, if you rank well for your terms in the serps and the cash/conversions are still rolling in then everything's fine.

Google Adwords test

Just spotted a little Google test on my site. The Ads, see above, now have little shuffling arrows so you can go to the next ad. Great idea and preumably a great way for Google to see which ads convert best and pass this back. Only problem is the randomness, you've no idea what's coming up.

Testing Google AdWord Campaigns

I've just discovered how to test where Google Adwords is showing your ads. This is useful because if you are using personal search on Google it's skew the positioning based on your previous searches and click through. Meaning that it'll show the position it thinks suits you best not what the vast majority of users will see. Which is a great idea on a personal level but terrible when you're paying for the ads yourself.

Anyway to check the positions using Google UK do your normal keyword search and then add

=&adtest=on to the end of the URL.

You'll then get a page with a warning saying this is a test site as well as a background telling you the searches are just previews.

For the US add &gl=us.

To some people this must be old news. It's new to me at least.

Lateral thinking on Google Adwords

I just found this great clip of a fantastic use of ASCII characters in Google Adwords. From the comments I can't be sure if this was cleared by Google or not. In my mind Google should allow this as it's breaks the mold and makes people try harder.

The idea will only work for companies who can visualise their products, but that means it wouldn't saturate the market. Spoof or spam I still love this idea. What do you think?

http://www.bannerblog.com.au/2007/12/sixt_ascii_text_ads.php

Using all the media you can

As Google takes over the world and acquires more and more sections of the internet. Using more and more media will reap huge rewards.

So if you've got video footage, get it on YouTube and tag it up properly. If you've pictures make sure they have targeted alt tags. If you've got a book out make sure Google knows about that too.

The more you have indexed the better, as Google begins to bring all it assets together and shows them in the search results.

Google Book results

I'm using my friend's PC at the moment so I don't have my bookmarks. So to get to pages normally on there I'm searching Google for the pages.

I just searched for Seth Godin so I could read today's blog. I got very weired book search results I've never seen before. When I followed them the results got stranger. After a couple of results which showed shots of chapters from Seth's books it showed other related books and then finally a map of all the places mentioned in the book, with links. All great in theory but surely not for Seth's books, they're not travel guides.

Maybe Google have just set my aspirations too high now, but it's disappointing when things aren't perfect on the results.

Has Google rounded down your sites PR?

I noticed recently that the PR (little green bar) has been lowered on my site. For at least 2 years it's been PR 7. The ranking for our keywords is fine, the number of visitors is fine as well.

I know that the little green bar doesn't give much information and can't be relied upon but it's just a little disconcerting.

Have Google rounded down PR's in general? After looking at a few other site I think they have. Any ideas? If Matt Cutts is reading I love an idea of what's happened.

If you've had a similar thing happen to your site let me know.

Google using user data to help serps? Surley not!

There's a rumour that Google are using Google Analytics and other Google tools to tweak the way search rankings are shown. I'm sure this is no surprise to anyone, though Matt Cutts denies it.

Behind the Google curtain - Matt Cutts

Matt Cutt's puts in his twopenneth on the article in the NY Times.

As always Matt gives a little bit more, but it only ever really triggers more questions.

Damn you Google!

Inside the GooglePlex - what goes on in the Google Algo team

What happens inside the Google Algorythm team is a closley guarded secret. The New York Times got a man on the inside and though he's doesn't get much information the article shows that whatever you do there's no point trying to cheat Google.

If you rely on them like I do play it safe, keep to the Google guidelines and build interesting sites with great content.

How to check if your site has pages in Google's Supplemental Results

Supplemental results for any site are a disaster. Google's supplemental results are the ones Google keeps in the back file in case the main results can't answer a search query.

And as Google's main results are so great, the supplemental ones don't get used very often.

To check if your site has pages in supplemental results, you can use this search query in the Google search box.

site:www.yoursite.com *** -sjpked

Just substitute yoursite.com for the url of the site you want to check.

If you have pages listed in here, check to see that your navigation links work ok, and start to try to build good pagerank for these pages.

Google Analytics Beta dashboard sucks

I use Google Analytic to measure the traffic to this blog and a lot of my other sites. It's free, easy to use and gives some great data. The current layout is great and very simple to navigate and use.

But some bright spark thought they could improve it and today they added a new beta view. Look I'm all for new developments, but this one should never had got passed the sketch pad let alone into Beta testing. It's just bad it should be dropped now.

Sorry Google got it wrong.

Google tighten their grip

Google are tightening up the webmarketing world again with their purchase of DoubleClick.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6554595.stm

Top ranking factors for Google

Over on SEOMoz, they've just published a great report on the top ranking factors for Google. This is invaluable for anyone involved in web marketing and is a must read.

I just wish someone at Google would confirm or deny these. Still that would just ruin the fun of it.

Google are human! At last I can call them!

After all this time, someone at Google has a phone number! At last there will be someone to speak to, even if it's only for Adwords it's a start.

I just got this email, you'll get one soon. But in case it gets lost in Spam here it is:


Hello,

Thank you for advertising with the Google AdWords program.

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide you with the best service possible, we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to contact our AdWords specialists by telephone. You can now call our dedicated local rate number.

If you are calling from the UK, please dial: 0845 358 0038, alternatively if you are calling from the Republic of Ireland, please dial: 1890 94 3980.

Then, for fastest service please follow the instructions below:

1. To expedite your call, press 2 to enter your Customer ID. This number is located at the top of every page in your AdWords account, next to your name and email address.

2. Press 3 if you do not have your Customer ID available and would like to be transferred to the next available AdWords Specialist.

You can reach our AdWords Specialists by phone Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, between the hours of 9a.m and 6p.m and on Tuesday and Friday from 9a.m to 5p.m.

As always, we are happy to assist you in any way possible.

Please also feel free to contact us via email at adwords-uk@google.com, and we will reply within one business day.

We look forward to providing you with the most effective advertising available.

Sincerely,
The Google AdWords UK and Ireland Team