[TopShopper]

I have recently been watching by web site's progress up the Google search results and was ecstatic when my site was number 2 on the list. Then I got suspicious.

After a little research, I found that when I was logged into my iGoogle account I was number 2, when I logged out I was on the fourth page.

Apparently, because I visit my site so often when making changes, iGoogle felt that it was an important site for me and pushed it up the results. Bah

[Sam G]

Silly billy!

[thefandango]

LOL! An easy to make error that catches a lot of people out.

[Ben]

Well that's just gone and burst your bubble!

Back to the SEO drawing board then!

...I'd just be in denial and stay logged in al the time.... I am number 2!! I am!

[EagleFreelance]

This is exactly what happened to me. Was 2nd when logged in, and 44th when logged out.
It shouldn't be that way , it's very confusing

But now I'm back in top10 when logged out

[traxor]

I think it's unfair for Google to do this, particularly if you're a search engine optimiser, then again, they don't want people to care about their ranking do they, they want the top one to always be the one with the best content, and if you're not, then tough luck .

[lazytycoon]

I dont think is unfair of google to do this and be warned this one of the 1st few steps of many Google will be taking to personalise your search results. When I used to check SERPs for clients I used my iPhone, a few SERPs listing sites and a couple of browsers. Its interesting that a US person looking at Google.co.uk will get different results to a UK person.

Results with become more and more tailored to the individual as you have witnessed and as a result SEO is going to become a lot more interesting. It is possible when link building in the future, it won't be the main aim to go for relevant links to your niche, but also relevant to your target buyer.
Eg you sell furniture aimed at 30 something professionals who are obese, you wont only need furniture links but you will also want to get links from sweet shops and professional type blogs and blogs about Coldplay.

[wizely]

As some of you know I'm a bit of a jet-setter and so I've done google searches from about 20 countries and each one will serve up very different results - even on google.co.uk.
And, yep... the future's only ever going to be more personalised results. Google doesn't go around collecting this and measuring that for nothing.
And that's what SEO should be... thinking about who your content is aimed at, ensuring it's high quality and understanding what they look for. Not chasing magic numbers or trying every trick in the book to get one over on an algorithm. In my day we use to call it business sense!

[lazytycoon]

Exactly.

The beauty of the internet is that its so easy to aim your product at a lot of demographics. You can tailor you images, copy, design, layout and checkout process all on what you targeted demo expects. There is no way you can please everyone with one design so why bother trying? Take advantage of the personalised results and use them to uber target.

[Mr Nourse]

lazytycoon, on 24 July 2009 - 06:34 PM, said:

Exactly.

The beauty of the internet is that its so easy to aim your product at a lot of demographics. You can tailor you images, copy, design, layout and checkout process all on what you targeted demo expects. There is no way you can please everyone with one design so why bother trying? Take advantage of the personalised results and use them to uber target.

That's what happened to me...

I had a shock, i dont appear anywhere.


brian

[ReachMedia]

Crap! just checked my search terms. Im not a happy chappy

[Tim Tavender]

That is also why you should check how your SEO consultant checks your ranking positions. If they say anything other than a strong third party tracking software then be suspicious!

[MolotovRuss]

God DAMN I didn't know that, just sent my client some notes on how well the SEO is going for their site...