Are you looking to understand how Google’s algorithm works? What about the testing and tracking tools to see how you are doing with the algorithm. Let’s find out.

Google’s Universal Search

In May 2007, Google sent out a press release about it’s new “Universal Search” function, meant to provide the best answer when Google’s response choices could be ambiguous at best.

In other words, if you input “Pink” into your Google Search text area, do you get bio results for the singer, Pink – or do you get information about the colour pink? With Universal Search, you supposedly get a “single, integrated set of search results” that offers you your “best answers”.

It has been in effect for many years now. What does it mean for Internet Marketers?

It means there’s new criteria for page ranking. An example of the differences? Google now evaluates and compares all types of internet media:

• Images
• Videos
• Maps
• Books
• Blogs
• Products
• News
• Web Sites

Where your web site was previously competing only against other web sites in the Search results, it now has to compete against every type of internet media there is. Pages that once ranked at the top can easily be moved down the list, with that much more competition alone.

This means Google navigation has changed – and so have the algorithms.

You are never going to be able to find out Google’s new search algorithms (which they are constantly refining and changing, anyway) – so concentrate instead on providing the best SEO for your site. Learning about vertical Search Engines won’t make much of a difference to your results – practicing basic, solid “white hat” SEO will – that’s what Google’s been aiming for, all along.

Make it your business to learn what type of SEO is most important to your type of internet media. The better optimized your blog, product or image, the more likely it is to be included in Google’s blended Universal Search results. And the more likely it is to rank well!

Google’s Algorithm

So what about Google’s algorithms?

I’ve only got one thing to say about Search Engine algorithms of any kind. There’s not a thing you can do to figure them out; and if you did, whatever action you took (assuming you had the technical skill to hack) would almost certainly adversely affect your page rank.

My best advice about SEO algorithms?

Forget them. Leave them to the experts, and concentrate on good, basic practices based on thorough research and careful planning.

Google Caffeine

Alas, this is not a cup of freshly-ground Dark Roast. Just part of Google’s many tools in its Search algorithms.

Check out Google Caffeine via the Google Sandbox.

(One thing I did notice with Google Caffeine: Its results load in more quickly than the ‘old’ Search version.)

Google Tools

If you have a Google SOAP API key, you can easily check your page ranking. (You would have received one, most likely, when you signed up for your Google Account.)

If you don’t already have one, there is absolutely no way to get one now, and Google is firm on that point. But how crucial is a tool that Google is phasing out?

(You can also try this Ultimate Seo Tool. Note that it’s not actually put out by Google.)

However, even if you don’t have a SOAP API key, the Page Ranking tool will still give you your rankings in MSN, Yahoo and Ask.

Testing and tracking for Google’s Algorithm

As an internet business owner, testing and tracking play a vital role in your success and to see how you are doing with Google’s algorithm and if you have good SEO set up on your site. You’ll test and track advertising results, you’ll test and track sales copy conversions, you’ll even test and track your article marketing results. You’ll test and track everything you can because money and time are being spent to grow your business and you want to make sure you’re spending it wisely.

Testing and tracking makes good business sense. So why wouldn’t you test and track your search engine optimization results?

Tracking tools like Google Analytics (and checking the stats in your cPanel) to see where your traffic is coming from and what pages are bringing in the most traffic is one of the first steps and will provide you with a wealth of information. This data will help you know what to discard, and what to refine and include even more.

However, there are other tools to help you fine-tune your SEO strategy. One tool is the Google Positioner plug-in for WordPress. If you have a WordPress website this tool will show you which keywords are being searched for on your blog.

This is a great analytics tool because it’ll help you hone in on the most popular and useful keywords for your readers. Thus enabling you to focus on what they are searching for so you can give them more. This plug-in coupled with Google Analytics empowers you to have all the information you need to make strategic business decisions.

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