Search Engine Optimization
Based in the Ottawa area, we help our clients with their computer and Internet needs. Our specialty is modifying our client's website content to ensure that search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing give it a high ranking. In addition, we offer assistance in the design of web stores to simplify the shopping experience and enhance revenue.
While search engine optimization (SEO) is our specialty our clients often have other computer related needs. Our expertise allows us to help our clients in a variety of ways. We also offer webmaster services, computer network services, data recovery and other computer services.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Nexus 1
As far as I knew Google was strictly a software company whose focus has always been to make things faster and easier. (And yes... they sell advertising too...) Today, Google has launched the Nexus 1 which looks curiously similar to Apple's
(I'd like to thank AppleInsider.com for this photo I snagged from their site.)
The question on my mind is: Why? Google introduced an operating system for phones called android. I would not say that it flopped but right now the
Does this represent a change in Google's direction and, if so, what would be the logical next step? There are rumours of a netbook or perhaps tablet device coming soon. Apple is likely to launch such a device this year which will give them a first to market advantage. I am inclined to believe that Google will not target markets that are saturated with adequate products that are very inexpensive. (The Nexus 1 costs $530 unlocked. That could buy you decent entry-level laptop these days and my guess is that the next device will be more expensive than their phone.)
Looking beyond the tablet what is there??? There are a lot of niches (both in hardware and software) that Google could get into. How about Google Navigator? Is it software that integrates with Google Maps and Google Earth or is it a GPS device? The answer is yes!
Google Games? (They could provide an API to developers and allow free use of games while splitting advertising revenue with game developers.)
Google Virtual Office? (A more intuitive approach to an operating system where devices and floor plans are clear. When your printer has a GPS in it the virtual office will ensure that documents a provided to the right location instantly. If your office is in Toronto and your colleague works in New York you print documents to the printer in their office automatically, provided you are authorized to do so.)
Google Archive? (Store a copy of everything you have for free in exchange for watching some advertising when you store it.)
I see Google facing a serious problem in the future. That problem is not brand identity. It is that Google is simply getting too big. Microsoft had difficulties when it gave away Internet Explorer with Windows. As a company some of there practices were determined to be anti-competitive. While that may be it is apparent that they were also ahead of their time. When Google released the Chrome browser, which is free as well, they did not have that kind of difficulty. That said, Google does not have a lock on the operating system market the way Microsoft did with PCs. The problem is that their presence on the Net is ubiquitous almost to the point of being overwhelming.
As much as I like Google there comes a point where they are big enough to take over markets for the sole purpose of pushing their own advertising. (For example: if you Google "best smart phone" how do you know if Google salted the results to help out the Nexus 1?) When that point gets closer things will get very interesting.
Ancient Chinese Curse: "May you live in interesting times."
Labels: Google Services
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Different Google results on different computers
One of my clients called me about his ranking in Google. More specifically, he wanted to know why a competitor was placing at the #1 position in Google for keywords that we had worked very hard to target. While Google does not share their search engine algorithm they did shed some light on this issue here. This link is also very helpful because it provides instructions on how to disable this customization.
To summarize, Google tracks your computer's use of their search engine and will customize your results based upon your previous search behaviour. Additionally, the amount of customization increases if you are signed into your Google account.
Since I happen to have access to my client's Google account I signed into it and tried to duplicate his search results but that did not work. Presumably Google uses a cookie or similar file on the client's computer to store search history.
To summarize, Google tracks your computer's use of their search engine and will customize your results based upon your previous search behaviour. Additionally, the amount of customization increases if you are signed into your Google account.
Since I happen to have access to my client's Google account I signed into it and tried to duplicate his search results but that did not work. Presumably Google uses a cookie or similar file on the client's computer to store search history.
Labels: Google Services
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Next Wave
What's next for a company that dominates Internet advertising revenues? While I am certain Google is pursuing a variety of new technology and services one that has many very technical people very excited is Google Wave. Never heard of it and want a 80 minute video introduction?
The Google Wave Video Introduction!
In short Google is in the process of "reinventing" email. The "send" is not needed as Google Wave sends data immediately, even when different people are editing at the same time. Additionally, photos and media are easily shared. Individual "conversations" can easily be modified to include new participants. The conversations can also be integrated into a blog where blog responders who also have Google Wave enter the "conversation". When the conversation is updated the blog entry is also updated automatically.
It is designed to support instant messaging and mobile devices.
The spell checker is rather nice too. It takes context into account to indicate when a spelling error occurs even if the word exists.
Labels: Google Services
Monday, September 28, 2009
Things Google does not do
I was talking with a friend this weekend who told me that he had received a call from Google and that they had offered to build a website for him and charge him a monthly fee. My friend is an accountant and he has been considering getting a website. Thus, he was considering the offer.
My first reaction was that Google does not do that and who ever spoke to my friend was misleading him. Google does many things, many things I probably don't know about. I've never heard of them offering to build websites for people. If Google were to offer a service like that would it be optimized to rank well in their search engine? If the answer is "yes" then this is a clear conflict of interest. If the answer is "no" then why would you want them to build a site for you.
Google does offer tools for building websites. This blog is made with Blogger which Google owns. Google also offers free hosting and domains however pages that are hosted on their servers rarely rank well.
Anyway, if someone tells you that Google will build you a website and charge you monthly for it do yourself a favour and hang up.
Labels: Google Services
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Knowledge on Demand: Google Knol
Google has a wide variety of services and I would bet that most people have never heard of them. Google Knol has been around for a while but it was news to me. It strikes me as a combination of Wikipedia and a blog. Users post entries and others may leave comments. Entries are grouped into categories.
How is that different from a blog?
- The entries stand on their own. To be effective a blog should have regular updates. In Google Knol each entry is independent and likely not updated once written.
- If you guessed that Google Knol has advanced searching features you'd be write. The top level searching system is very similar to a Google search bar but the search toolkit is what sets Google Knol apart.
Labels: Google Services