Google and Personalized Search

Another way that Google has changed the playing field as far as search engine optimization is through Personalized Search.

With Personalized Search, Google reads your search history, measures your length of stay and clicks on sites and dishes out search results based on what it thinks you want to see, which can be totally different from what others see. For Google to show these personalized results, you have to be signed into a Google account (Gmail, Google Analytics, Google Reader, etc). The problem is that most people will forget that they are signed in and won't know that the results they are seeing are personalized and different from what others might see.

Why is Google personalizing search? In a nutshell, because Google thinks it's what we want. Many of us in that big "we" category aren't convinced that's so. Regardless, it looks like it's here to stay.

Of course, the other big engines will follow suit with their own versions of personalized search results (whether we really want them or not). So, in order to optimize your sites for more personalized search friendliness (stickiness and more clicks), here are a few tips.

1. Optimize for your user around themes instead of keywords. Keep the user engaged to keep them on the site longer. Keywords will come naturally with theme optimization.

2. Use long tail optimization. Different words can mean the same thing and catch those extra searches. In other words, don't just optimize for "round 3. Videos and images are more important. These catch the eye and keep the user on your site longer.

4. Create a buzz. This has become an Promote across social sites Use MySpace, Facebook, Digg, etc. to get the word out.

Notice a theme here? Sticky, sticky, sticky. Keep your users engaged and on your site to do well in personalized search.

This article is intended as a companion piece to S E O 101 series

I go into more detail in my S E O 101 workshop, offered to web site owners and small businesses. Check my blog at Comments