Comments on: Debunking a misconception, plus a reminder of how search engines work http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/ neat fun stuff Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:35:07 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Kevin http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122930 Kevin Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:14:30 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122930 Matt, it is human nature to always raise the bar on what we are currently getting. I remember when we had to wait 30 minutes to heat up something in the stove. Then came the microwave that could do it in 1 minute. Now some days I stand in front of the microwave and go "1 minute, isn't there anything faster out there." You can trade out the oven for dial-up and the microwave for broadband. User expectations, give them what they want, they are happy for a while and then they come back and ask if it can be faster. Matt, it is human nature to always raise the bar on what we are currently getting. I remember when we had to wait 30 minutes to heat up something in the stove. Then came the microwave that could do it in 1 minute. Now some days I stand in front of the microwave and go “1 minute, isn’t there anything faster out there.” You can trade out the oven for dial-up and the microwave for broadband.

User expectations, give them what they want, they are happy for a while and then they come back and ask if it can be faster.

]]> By: Search Engine Optimization Journal http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122741 Search Engine Optimization Journal Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:29:58 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122741 We agree with the other postings. Oftentimes it is difficult to explain to the average internet user that it takes time to get indexed and a day or two is simply unreasonable to expect a topic or photo to appear on Google when it had no internet presence previously. Surprising that people would make such a bold statement against Google within just a few days of it not showing up. However, with so many governments banning so many topics online, we suppose it isn't unreasonable to make those assumptions. Informative post - enjoyed reading the specific examples. We agree with the other postings. Oftentimes it is difficult to explain to the average internet user that it takes time to get indexed and a day or two is simply unreasonable to expect a topic or photo to appear on Google when it had no internet presence previously. Surprising that people would make such a bold statement against Google within just a few days of it not showing up. However, with so many governments banning so many topics online, we suppose it isn’t unreasonable to make those assumptions. Informative post – enjoyed reading the specific examples.

]]> By: Alexis Kauffmann - Galeria de Arte Géssica Hellmann http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122661 Alexis Kauffmann - Galeria de Arte Géssica Hellmann Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:23:35 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122661 There is one thing I keep asking around and no one seems to have a clue: when Search Engines are going to accept inputs other than text for search? My wife and I do lots of image research and we would just love to sketch something on the tablet and see what images match our drawing, for instance. This image-word matching does not work fine and makes it immenselly difficult to control misuse of copyright for our images. P.S.: Since "Google Images doesn’t have a dedicated blog right now" I hope you don't mind if I borrow your space to send them this message, Matt! P.P.S.: I mentioned images, but I would also like to whisper a melody and find music, video and text document matches... You got the idea. There is one thing I keep asking around and no one seems to have a clue: when Search Engines are going to accept inputs other than text for search? My wife and I do lots of image research and we would just love to sketch something on the tablet and see what images match our drawing, for instance.

This image-word matching does not work fine and makes it immenselly difficult to control misuse of copyright for our images.

P.S.: Since “Google Images doesn’t have a dedicated blog right now” I hope you don’t mind if I borrow your space to send them this message, Matt!

P.P.S.: I mentioned images, but I would also like to whisper a melody and find music, video and text document matches… You got the idea.

]]> By: Steven Roussey http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122602 Steven Roussey Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:09:11 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122602 http://www.news.com/No-booze-or-jokes-for-Googlers-in-China/2100-1030_3-6031727.html?tag=item Just for reference.. to the above post. Of course, I know the argument that it irrevelant since China blocks about a million sites we host, so seeing them in the results doesn't do the Chinese any good if they can't go to them... however how else would they even know they are being blocked? http://www.news.com/No-booze-or-jokes-for-Googlers-in-China/2100-1030_3-6031727.html?tag=item

Just for reference.. to the above post. Of course, I know the argument that it irrevelant since China blocks about a million sites we host, so seeing them in the results doesn’t do the Chinese any good if they can’t go to them… however how else would they even know they are being blocked?

]]> By: Steven Roussey http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122601 Steven Roussey Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:01:16 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122601 > there’s no need to assume an ulterior motive on Google’s part There is reason to think so, however. For example, if you were in China, searches for our company have often returned no results, and quite on purpose (we were on the first short list of sites to ban sent to Google and Yahoo, Microsoft had ignored it. Who would have thought?). So since Google does censor based on request of governments in some cases, there will *always* be the assumption that it does in other cases (even when it does not). > there’s no need to assume an ulterior motive on Google’s part

There is reason to think so, however. For example, if you were in China, searches for our company have often returned no results, and quite on purpose (we were on the first short list of sites to ban sent to Google and Yahoo, Microsoft had ignored it. Who would have thought?).

So since Google does censor based on request of governments in some cases, there will *always* be the assumption that it does in other cases (even when it does not).

]]> By: James Creare http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122536 James Creare Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:23:15 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122536 Thats for the info matt on the image spidering. I had a question acutally regarding images, how on earth does Google tell pornographic and indecent images apart from images that are fine? Is it based on the web-site that they are found on, or does Google actually read the image, to assess what it is of? Thats for the info matt on the image spidering. I had a question acutally regarding images, how on earth does Google tell pornographic and indecent images apart from images that are fine?

Is it based on the web-site that they are found on, or does Google actually read the image, to assess what it is of?

]]> By: Craig http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122527 Craig Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:33:28 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122527 Although maybe only obliquely related, recently I was replying to someone else's reply in a Google Webmaster Help Groups thread and happened to do a search on a phrase that was used in the person's reply. I couldn't believe it but Google had indexed that very reply already and showed up near the top for the phrase I was searching on. I know you have written on the speed at which some pages get indexed but it never really sunk in until this happened to me. Unfortunately there are still sites, like some of mine, whose updates don't get indexed so fast. But then again, considering the rate at which the content updates, I'm not surprised either. ;-) All that said, no matter what you or anyone does or says, people will always look for and find, at least in their own minds, ulterior motives that more often than not speak more about the one assuming the motives than the one the assumptions are being made about. :-( Google just happens to be a lot of people's "whipping boy". Although maybe only obliquely related, recently I was replying to someone else’s reply in a Google Webmaster Help Groups thread and happened to do a search on a phrase that was used in the person’s reply.

I couldn’t believe it but Google had indexed that very reply already and showed up near the top for the phrase I was searching on.

I know you have written on the speed at which some pages get indexed but it never really sunk in until this happened to me.

Unfortunately there are still sites, like some of mine, whose updates don’t get indexed so fast. But then again, considering the rate at which the content updates, I’m not surprised either. ;-)

All that said, no matter what you or anyone does or says, people will always look for and find, at least in their own minds, ulterior motives that more often than not speak more about the one assuming the motives than the one the assumptions are being made about. :-(

Google just happens to be a lot of people’s “whipping boy”.

]]> By: Hani Obaid http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122526 Hani Obaid Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:27:16 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122526 Here's the thing, I did the searching myself before I found your blog post, but I couldn't find it either. That was because I spelled the name the same as many of the posts claiming google removed the picture. ("abu trika" gaza), and (abutrika gaza). Neither return any results with the picture on google images (even now). Wheras the (ou) spelling returns results with the picture on both google news and google images. The (ou) spelling also returns more results in google web search. It seems it is the more popular spelling in English. period. Here are the specifics: aboutrika gaza - 25,100 results "abu trika" gaza - 3400 results "abou trika" gaza - 787 results abutrika gaza - 34 results Others advised that the image can be found under yahoo search and MS Live under the (abu) spelling, but those differences are simply the differences between their crawler and yours. Even then some so called "news" websites included yahoo in the announcement. So it seems it was a case of gossip gone smeer campaign by overzelous fans. Here’s the thing, I did the searching myself before I found your blog post, but I couldn’t find it either. That was because I spelled the name the same as many of the posts claiming google removed the picture. (”abu trika” gaza), and (abutrika gaza). Neither return any results with the picture on google images (even now). Wheras the (ou) spelling returns results with the picture on both google news and google images. The (ou) spelling also returns more results in google web search. It seems it is the more popular spelling in English. period.

Here are the specifics:
aboutrika gaza – 25,100 results
“abu trika” gaza – 3400 results
“abou trika” gaza – 787 results
abutrika gaza – 34 results

Others advised that the image can be found under yahoo search and MS Live under the (abu) spelling, but those differences are simply the differences between their crawler and yours. Even then some so called “news” websites included yahoo in the announcement. So it seems it was a case of gossip gone smeer campaign by overzelous fans.

]]> By: Andrew C http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122482 Andrew C Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:07:12 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122482 Matt is exactly right. Everyone knows Google only provides censorship for the Chinese government. Matt is exactly right. Everyone knows Google only provides censorship for the Chinese government.

]]> By: uploadchoice http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122475 uploadchoice Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:15:41 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/debunking-a-misconception-plus-a-reminder-of-how-search-engines-work/#comment-122475 There is really need of censorship of images, also if google robot will give value to the authentic image it would be big plus! There is really need of censorship of images, also if google robot will give value to the authentic image it would be big plus!

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