Today I wrote a letter to Google Press - [email protected]. I was looking to find out how Google might adjust their algorithm to different search types. The main answer I was looking for was whether Google looks at a search phrased as a question in a different way to a product, brand or service related search. When I was searching for the answer for this the closest thing I found was Google’s inside search blog. It is clear that not all searches are treated the same. The clearest example is using the term “closest” will mean Google uses your location where possible. Considering how relevant Google is it is likely that they treat many phrases in different ways. What isn’t clear is how.
The inside search blog is a Good resource if you are wanting to know the stages Google goes through between you making a search and them returning with results. Unfortunately it is (probably deliberately) quite vague on the specifics I want to know. This struck me as a good thing to write an article about because it would bring new knowledge to the field of SEO. Currently SEO has a tenancy to rehash the same old information in new ways.
My letter reads:
Dear Google Press,
I run the blog http://www.optimise-u.co.uk. My goal is to help educate people on how they can rank better on Google without any cheats or tricks - to make websites better, more crawlable and relevant for the end user.
One thing I have noticed there isn’t much information on is how Google treats different kind of searches - for example does Google respond differently to searches which are questions? Also do you use words such as how or why to decide how the search should be populated in a different way to how you treat a more traditional search phrases for an industry such as “electrician in London”? Another example would be (how) do you you identify products and brands as different to services or location based search terms? If possible would you be able to give me any information you are willing to part with about how search works beyond what you explain in the inside search blogs. The main thing I was looking to find out is related to how you treat a search phrased as a question against a regular search.
I realise that Google tends not to give huge amounts away about how your specific algorithms work but I want to stress that I am not looking for information that could lead to the newest way of cheating your system. That would be short sited because it only leads to sanctions when your next update is released. Also cheats tend to only hurt the end user by focusing on ranking rather than user experience. If businesses were more knowledgeable about how you respond to different types of search then they would be able to create content more relevant to how your searches work.
My site is new to the SEO game after I got disillusioned working for a big firm. My site has been running for two months and my goal is to bring new information to the industry to help people improve the user experience. Any help you can give me on how you treat different searches would be greatly appreciated.
All the BestDavid Arnold(Optimise-u)
Hi David,Everything we share about how search works can be found here: http://www.google.co.uk/insidesearch/howsearchworks/thestory/Best,Google Press team