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How To Google, or How To Be Easily Distracted
By Keith Watson
I set out with the intention of writing a self improvement type article with an
original temporary working title of 'How To Overcome Fear'.
Being the sound marketing man that I am though, my first action was to
research whether this was relevant to many peoples lives.
What followed was a mistake.
I had read recently about a 'Google Suggest' in Beta test mode
(http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1), and so I thought I would give it a
whirl.
I should have known better - distractions on the web happen to me all the
time.
The next hour passed effortlessly away as I played with the new found toy.
This is Google's own description of the tool:
'What is Google Suggest?
As you type into the search box, Google Suggest guesses what you're
typing and offers suggestions in real time. This is similar to Google's "Did you
mean?" feature that offers alternative spellings for your query after you search,
except that it works in real time. For example, if you type "bass," Google
Suggest might offer a list of refinements that include "bass fishing" or "bass
guitar." Similarly, if you type in only part of a word, like "progr," Google Suggest
might offer you refinements like "programming," "programming languages,"
"progesterone," or "progressive." You can choose one by scrolling up or down
the list with the arrow keys or mouse.
That's pretty cool. How does it do that? Our algorithms use a wide range of
information to predict the queries users are most likely to want to see. For
example, Google Suggest uses data about the overall popularity of various
searches to help rank the refinements it offers...'
Here are some thought provoking results:
'How to overcome fear' - 2,580,000 results
'How to overcome anxiety' - 119,000 results
At least I am right to be targeting my article towards those expressing concern
about fear.
But here is the strange thing - Google sponsored AdWord links for 'anxiety' is
twelve, but 'fear' only has three.
There are many more anomolies such as this in a very short time.
Furthermore, look at these interesting results from Google Suggest:
The really amazing thing is how big some of the search results are:
'How to be happy' 95,000,000 results - sponsored links, nine.
AND
What about these:
'How to be hot' - 192,000,000 and get this - NIL Google sponsored links.
'How to be humble' - 6,700,000 - NIL Google sponsored links.
This last example has been included, as it is more surprising in that even the
normal Google search for the keyword phrase 'how to be humble' throws up
results that bear vary little resemblance to the searched term. Try it and see.
What absorbed me were the ranking figures showing on the right. IF the
figures are correct I can confidently state that product producers, affiliates and
advertisers are really missing out on a lot of massively searched niches.
Have I found a goldmine? Should I be revealing all this?
Well I don't know, and frankly I am puzzled by what the 'Google Suggest'
numbers really represent.
I am not going to get that excited as I have just been to Wordtracker which
gave me these results for two of
the above terms.
'How to be hot' - 13 searches in the last 110 days
'How to be humble' No searches in the last 110 days.
So where do the 'Google Suggest' figures come from? Can you throw any light
on this, because if you can it will save me being distracted further in search of
the truth.
Oh - and there is still that article to write about overcoming fear. Down to it.
About the Author
Keith is the Managing Director of Creative Eye and has over 10 years experience in website design, development and project management.
To read more from Keith Watson, visit http://www.creativeeye.co.uk/articles/
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/6948.html
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