Not so long ago in the beginning of the internet age the search
engine function of the major portals was seen as a necessary
evil to help drive customers to profitable areas of the business.
Does anyone remember the Go Network? The companies that forgot
why customers went to the portal in the first place were
the first ones to go out of business. There is a solid business
adage that says you must take care of and grow your core
business first and only support ancillary businesses that
compliment and enhance your core business.
Most users of search engines are either searching for information
or shopping. These users are the core customers of the search
engine. The primary function they demand of the search engine
is good search results. If the search engine is considered
the aggregator of search results, why would expect secondary
aggregators to get the best results in our search.
If I am a restaurant owner and I am searching for “restaurant
supplies” and my search results are filled with directories
for restaurant supplies, why not go to the directories first.
Is the search engine really doing its job if the results
turn out secondary results. Then I must do a second search
in the directory to find my desired result.
Why are these directories ranking so high in the search
engine results. If the suspected algorithms that Google uses
to rank web pages show that links truly are the determinant
factor in assigning page rank, this would explain the result.
Explaining the reason for the result still doesn’t
explain the logic that leads to directories being so prevalent
in the results.
Would it not benefit the search engine, if it were to be
your directory of choice? If you do not to put the word directory
in your search, I would safely assume that you were not looking
for a directory. Search engines could satisfy the needs of
the directories by having a separate search just for directories.
Otherwise don’t include them. This would only enhance
their customer’s experience by saving them precious
time and aggravation. It could even be a marketing point.
Google claims to be a democratically controlled search engine,
with links equating to votes for particular web pages. Yet
unannounced changes in their ranking structure have wreaked
havoc on many a small Internet entrepreneur. The danger with
democracies is that the customers can vote with their dollars
and their time and use competing services.
In my very unscientific comparison I have found Google to
be the most likely to include directory results in general
searches. Lately I have found myself using Yahoo more and
more in my everyday searches as the results are more relevant
and less time consuming, which is good for you and me.
Jeffrey Dorrian is the soap guy. Really, that is his website
=>www.thesoapguy.com
=>handmade
soap
He has been making premium olive oil soap for the past five
years and now has customers in all fifty states. "This is a
true inexpensive luxury anyone can enjoy."