Comments on: More details on Web 2.0 story

By: Spider Ninja

Spider Ninja — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 04:37:08 +0000

I have to agree with MattKP that the scraper sites using AdSense are really distracting or worse, since they give the impression that Google is supporting the creation of crap content.

To be fair, I am sure this was not Google’s intent…but it is hard not to think that when searching for some term and being confronted with a scraper site with huge AdSense ads up top and garbage below.

By: Glamorella

Glamorella — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 10:24:39 +0000

Hey Matt-
How ’bout if we barter our services here?

You are the big cheese search guy and I’m the fashion expert.

I’ll tell you how to not look like a frat house party boy and more like the strong, savvy biz guy you are if you tell me why our site has totally disappeared out of any any Google keyword search since the Septmeber 22 non-update?

Why not? We’ll both look better in the end?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:46:09 +0000

I think that all search engines should split at a fundimental level into commercial and non commercial derivatives. When I’m looking for information (knowledge) i get really arsed off at adds in any form and particuarly results that are ony trying to sell to me.

I suggest that the W3C impliments a tag and that Google has a tick box that can include or exclude these results. This would give those of us that are interested a global knowledgebase of shared information, and those that only want to flog their crap to the masses their shop window as well.

At the moment it’s like trying to find Einstein’s theory of relativity in the Yellow pages.

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 13:27:24 +0000

Currently enjoying Battelle’s book, and the issue of change in advertising and business model couldn’t be more underlined by the short history of search so far.

Still, I’m sure it’s a great quote used out of context.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 19:56:18 +0000

Mick, what are some example SERPs that look spammy/bizarre to you? You can leave a comment and say “don’t approve this one” if you want. I’d be curious to hear what area you’re talking about.

JD, based on your advice and comments from a couple other folks, I moved to a new webhost this weekend. Things should be a little more snappy now.

By: Dan the Automator

Dan the Automator — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 01:39:05 +0000

Here I go again…

I just wanted to say that surely the most, the very most important thing that google needs to focus on is the search! If you lose your grip on that, then your just another media company – rupert will blow you out of the water, he’s a deamon.

You’re the best search company in town, that’s why you(GOOG)’re so big… You lose that, you’ll lose us all.

Get on it

By: MattKP

MattKP — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:15:03 +0000

Surely Google must realize that most people have taken advantage of Adsense to the point where a websites content is secondary to displaying ads and collecting the cash. Half of the sites using Adsense are more spammy than anything else. Google has indirectly created more sites to junk up the search results. I get that uncomfortable feeling using Adsense like the way you would feel if you are scalping tickets outside of a football game. You know you are taking advantage of people but it’s a service where the seller and buyer gets what they want. I do display adsense on some of my fun personal sites, not really making money, but even if I were I would still say this.

By: JD

JD — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 23:26:07 +0000

Haven’t been here in a while. But I can tell you your site is slow. If you aren’t on a dedicated server, you might want to get one. If you are already, you may want to add another and do some load balancing.

By: Mick

Mick — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 23:17:39 +0000

I read with interest, I agree that google has changed many interesting things and would be remembered for those if it disappeared.

What I disagree with is “I think Google is keeping a very sharp focus on our core areas.” I believe Google has taken its eye off the ball in core areas such as search. The serps at present are bizarre, spammy and more than half my daily searches are totally irrelevant (around 200+). This week i actually, with much disgust, changed my home page to Yahoo. This has only ever been google since the day i bought a pc 5 years back.

Many things could be suggested but I don’t think this is the place.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 18:58:41 +0000

Hi Matt,

Kudos on the blog. It’s the first time I’ve ever followed one for more than a week or so…

In reply to your comment regarding ads being as helpful as organic results: I totally agree about 20% of the time.

Like a lot of people I have some familiarity with the Google UI and for the majority of my searches the ads sections is just screen noise that gets in the way.

But then about 20% of the time I’m searching specifically for vendors for products and services. In those cases, I’ve found Google’s Adwords a great resource. It kind of “pre-qualifies” the companies for me. Only after I’ve clicked all the relevent Ads will I glance at the organics.

I’m not sure if I’m typical. But if a majority of users have a similar experience, where the use of the ads and the use of the organics is so seperate, might it make sense to allow users the choice of which to view? Maybe not from a revenue point-of-view, but from a UI point-of-view?

Thanks, and keep it up man,

Darryl.