This Week In Search: February 25

Ralph here with this week’s list of search news you should be paying attention to. And this week, it’s all about the goings on in Googletown. We look at penalties that Google has been handing out, as well as, algorithmic improvements they’ve just implemented.

Overstock Penalized By Google

For the second time in as many weeks Google has dished out ranking sanctions against a major retailer. Who? Overstock.com. The crime? Trading discounts to students for embedded links off .edu webpages. The result? Drops in SERP visibility on highly sought-after terms, like “vacuum cleaners” and “laptop computers.”

Google Introduces Personalized Filtering Of Search Results

The search engine giant introduced a new feature that allows users to filter certain sites out of their search results while using the Chrome browser.

The article provides information on the general way in which Google ranks pages. But an amusing question is also raised regarding Chrome’s new site blocking function; “What if you were to block Google from Google?”

Google Has Made It Clear: Original Content Is King!

Content farmers took a blow this week after Google announced an algorithmic improvement. The changes are going to give sites with original, meaningful and authoritative content a rankings boost. I’ve listed a few related links to give some perspective on Google’s announcement.

• Content Farmers Brace for War!
  • Yes I could have used the original Mashable article, but CNN’s photo was better, gives the news a more ominous feel.

• Google to Close Content Farms
  • This article addresses whether or not the changes will actually affect content farming. The author suggests trying a few searches yourself to see how much shallow content you can or can’t find.

Random Tech for the Week: Robots run a full length marathon!

Great upcoming documentary – For those who can’t wait to network with their computers this one is for you.

Please feel free to discuss or leave a message. Bonus if anyone can find a robotic triathalon.