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Google Unveils Search Engine Revolution - Search Wiki
Return to text blog entriesArticle date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:35:57 GMTSo it begins. The tentative step into the next stage of search engine evolution.
Well almost.
On the 20th November 2008, Google announced that it was launching a new feature for its account holders: Search Wiki (Google Blog).
Google's Search Wiki will allow users to control the search results whilst they are logged in. It will empower users to effect changes to display orders on their searches which the system will then acknowledge and apply in future. Essentially it will create unique search rankings for their individual tastes.
What's more, users will be able to share their results with other Search Wiki users.
Google envisage that this will help them to better adapt their search algorithms. This can only serve to better enable users to find Text's clients by the exclusion of less relevant sites.
This isn't necessarily a giant leap though. Google has been monitoring the search results of users since its inception and adapting the algorithms accordingly. In 2007 Google reported making on average nine changes to its product a week (Google Blog).
OK - so this is a breakthrough of sorts, but we aren't at the point yet where Google is prepared to open this up to the masses. We aren't yet at the point of adaptive search results and there is no mechanism available to handle abuses to the system. But I don't think it will be that long in the coming.
As internet marketers and search engine optimisers who believe in the websites we work on, we should applaud Google for this development. This represents a move away from lifeless directories, from content rich but soulless sites to a new era were websites can compete on user preference, relevance and usability.
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Kate, 2008-11-21 10:58:34
That's really cool - will this mean that sites will be ranked more by their relevance and creativity than masses of keywords? Does this mean we'll be able to use useful and interesting sites which are at the top of the rankings because they deserve it and not because of meta stuffed content? If so then I only have one word: Hurrraahh!!
Simon Dalley, 2008-11-21 11:05:07
Hi Kate,
Ultimately that's what Google are suggesting this will do - although I doubt that it will have too dramatic an effect on the way the internet works in the short term.
