Visual Timeline of Search Engine Acquisitions
July 18, 2007 by DazzlinDonna · 5 Comments
I was going to research and analyze the various companies that the search engines have acquired over the years, creating some pretty charts along the way. I still may do some analysis, but of course, midway through my research I found a much nicer chart than I could ever hope to build. So, instead of creating one, I’ll just pass along some link love to whoever created this awesome timeline chart. It’s interactive, in that you can use your mouse to scroll through the time line. Below is a reduced screenshot, with each colored dot representing one of the big 3 (Google, Yahoo, MSN).
Search Engine Test Case: New Data, New Findings
May 1, 2007 by DazzlinDonna · Comments Off
Three months ago, Joel Bresler launched a web site presenting a cultural history of the American folk song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd." His web site presents an interesting test case for search engine performance.
Sitemap autodiscovery for the Big 4 via robots.txt
April 11, 2007 by DazzlinDonna · 7 Comments
As Yahoo, Ask, and MSN have all reported this morning, they (and Google) have joined together to make sitemaps autodiscoverable via the robots.txt file. As long as you tell the search engines where your sitemap lives (in the robots.txt file), they will be able to find it and use it. Simply add the following line to your robots.txt file:
Sitemap: <sitemap_location>
Test Case: Google, Yahoo, MSN: Finding new content
March 16, 2007 by DazzlinDonna · Comments Off
Joel Bresler emailed me this morning and since his email is self-explanatory, I present it here (slightly modified):
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I have recently launched a web site dedicated to the American folk song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd." The site presents an interesting test case, for the following reasons: First, there has been virtually no new research on Follow the Drinking Gourd in twelve years. Second, this site represents the most comprehensive research published on the song. Third, some web pages that recently ranked highly on a "follow the drinking gourd" search just a few weeks ago were removed in February. I analyze search engine performance on several different parameters: Read more
MSN Live introduces related searches via ad
January 3, 2007 by DazzlinDonna · Comments Off
When I jumped on MeeVee this morning to check out the tv listings for tonight, I noticed a Live.com advertisement. Live is introducing its related searches feature. I wasn’t quick enough to grab screenshots of each of the sections of the rotating ad (managed to get two of them). But the ad starts out by saying “One search” and then says something like “gets 10 more”. (I forget the exact wording of that part). Anyway, below are the two screenshots I did manage to grab. I wonder how widespread this campaign is.
Default search engine quest ends
December 31, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 7 Comments
Back on 12/11, I mentioned that I was on a quest to find a new default search engine. For one week each, I was going to try Yahoo, MSN, and Ask. This past week was Ask’s turn. All in all, it fared pretty well, with only a few disappointments. It didn’t however, do well enough to supplant Yahoo in my tests, so Yahoo is the big winner for me. From now on, I will be using Yahoo as my default search engine, and I will alternate between using Ask, MSN, and Google whenever Yahoo fails to provide what I am looking for.
Update on using a new search engine
December 18, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · Comments Off
A week ago, I began my quest to find a new default search engine. Last week, I used Yahoo! exclusively. How did it fare? Just fine. I was perfectly content with it all week. I found what I was looking for 99% of the time, and the rest of the time, it was equally difficult to find what I was searching for anywhere else. So far, Yahoo is in the lead, and this week is MSN Live’s turn. Next Monday, I’ll report on whether or not it topples Yahoo from the lead spot.
Yahoo and MSN now supporting Google sitemap protocol
November 15, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 2 Comments
The Google blog just announced that Yahoo and MSN will be officially supporting the sitemap XML protocol that Google created last year. You can get more information on the protocol at sitemaps.org.
MSN support rep on link exchanges and penalties
October 16, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 3 Comments
A buddy of mine shared some correspondence he has had with MSN in regards to a site of his that has been apparently penalized in MSN SERPs. Not banned, mind you, just penalized.
What do the search engines say about links?
August 10, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · Comments Off
Barry’s coverage of the Search Engine Q&A on Links session at SES San Jose 2006 is a must read. I’ve pulled out a few of the more interesting (to me) segments that tend to answer questions we’ve all bandied about for years. For full details, be sure to go straight to the source.
Wow, Ask head moves to MSN
April 21, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 2 Comments
According to John Battelle, Steve Berkowitz, head of Ask, is going to run MSN, and various other Microsoft properties, beginning May 8th. Interesting stuff…
MSN unveiling new search engine
March 7, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 2 Comments
Tomorrow, March 8th, Microsoft will unveil a beta version of its new (yes, newer than the one they have now) search engine at www.live.com. So what’s new? Read more
MSN promises to be better than Google in 6 months
March 1, 2006 by DazzlinDonna · 2 Comments
According to Neil Holloway, Microsoft president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, “What we’re saying is that in six months’ time we’ll be more relevant in the U.S. market place than Google”.
