Mark Rushworth - SEO Leeds» Google Archives – Mark Rushworth UK SEO and Web Design Leeds

Use Canonical URL to Target Different Countries in GWT

Mark Rushworth — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:50:59 +0000

Is it just me or does Google Webmaster Tools give you the ability to target www. domains at one country and non www at a different country whilst keeping the target URL the same?

Try it for yourself, log into Google Webmaster Tools and set up (and validate) two entries www.domain.com and domain.com go to each sites settings and there you can see you can set the country of focus.

Best use of canonical domains ever!

Google has an Online Shop

Mark Rushworth — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:03:13 +0000

Some of the guys at Blueclaw have Google branded mice and gizmos and I asked if they picked them up at a trade show. What I didnt know was that theyve bought them from the official online Google shop which has loads of branded goodies at low prices(no phones tho?).

By all accounts you even have to buy stuff like this if you work inside of Google like Elanie, one of our PPC consultants did… the cheapskates.

So if you’re into Google branded goodies check the store out.

Anchor Text is Fixed on the First Pass of the Google Bot

Mark Rushworth — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:58:06 +0000

Tim of SEOWizz fame and resident guru at Branded 3 has recently posted an article which he debunks popular link building myths.

One key point he argues is that Google is attributing the anchor text on the first pass of the bot and that changing anchor text once its been ‘indexed’ has no effect.

This is massive as one of the first things I (used to) do for every client was to check the backlink profile and re-purpose any links that were not anchor text based.

It seems the key is to get the link right the first time.

I need to see how this effects new links pushed into old content as that could be a huge hurdle for link aquisition.

Verify Google Webmaster Tools Using the Google Analytics Account Code

Mark Rushworth — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:20:15 +0000

Wow, three posts today… I am on fire!

Just noticed that you can nw authenticate/validate websites in Google Webmaster Tools using your Google Analytics tracking code.

Google Webmaster Tools

How cool is that. No more need for META tags, strange files in your website root or DNS authentication… NICE!

Enhanced! Google Webmaster Tools Top Search Queries

Mark Rushworth — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:14:22 +0000

New and improved, Google have enhanced the Top Search Queries report in their Webmaster Tools to show a more Analytics style report with both keyword and click-through information.

This is great as it gives you another datasource to view CTR information.

Tip: trevorweir.com

I Spy Googles New Keyword Tool UI

Mark Rushworth — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:06:49 +0000

Another things thats not new, however it is now linked from the standard Google AdWords Keyword Tool (https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/KeywordToolExternal).

Note this doesn’t appear to work in Chrome!

New Google Keyword Tool

So what’s new here?

Overall the tool feels more intuitive and I get a better sense as to how the options relate to the data. Things like filtering Exact Match terms has moved to the bottom left of the screen, trend information is shown to the right of the keyword lists and additional filters allowing you to delve closer into a niche are provided.

It says you get more information if you log into adwords, however it doesnt really show the organic search specialist anything worthwhile.

Give it a try.

I Spy Googles New UI

Mark Rushworth — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:46:01 +0000

I know its not new news, but its the first time over ever seen Googles new UI design.

New Google UI Design

So whats different?

As you can see the listings are now pulled up the page and the blue bar has been removed. The search box s larger and the search button made larger and more attached. Results numbers have moved to the right hand side and advanced tucked under the right hand edge of this panel. Some pre-built filters have been added to the left hand panel (none worked). Wjhat you cant see from this image is Google have added their standard corporate links to the foot of the page where the Gooooooooogle bar has been re-designed and theres a repeat of the search box. Font sizes have been made smaller.

So what do I think about it?

I think its a step in the right direction if you’re trying to compete with Bing who will shortly be using a sidebar to pull in comparison information and provide other integrated search functions.

On a bragging note, its nice to see my sites featured 1, 5 and 6th

Google Translate for Animals

Mark Rushworth — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:47:05 +0000

Now this is obviously an April Fools joke but theres got to be someone out there whos been sucked in by it lol.

google.co.uk/intl/en/landing/translateforanimals/

Matt Cutts Confirms Key Search Ranking Factors

Mark Rushworth — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:32:49 +0000

Chris Baggott of StoneTemple.com has put together a fantastic summary of an interview with Googles ‘Mr Spam’, Matt Cutts.

Its a brilliant article and certainly has lots of take-home information that you can use in your SEO.

Check it now!

Is Google Polluting SERPS on Non Chrome Browsers?

Mark Rushworth — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:31:13 +0000

I’m sat here today with 3 browsers open, one using the latest build of Google Chrome, Opera and one using the new Firefox release. Both browsers have the search term Chesterfields inputted into Google.co.uk and im seeing startlingly different results.

SERPS for ‘Chesterfields’
Position	Google Chrome	Firefox	Opera
1	chesterfields.co.uk	chesterfields.co.uk	Wikipedia.org
2	distinctivechesterfields.co.uk	chesterfieldriverfront.org	chesterfieldbronzes.com
3	chesterfieldsdirect.co.uk	chesterfield.gr	chesterfields.co.uk
4	chesterfields.info	chesterfieldcylinders.com	chesterfield1713.com
5	chesterfields1790.com	distinctivechesterfields.co.uk	distinctivechesterfields.co.uk
6	wikipedia.org	chesterfieldsdirect.co.uk	chesterfieldaustralia.com.au
7	derbyshiretimes.co.uk	chesterfields.info	chesterfieldsblues.20fr.com
8	derbyshireuk.net	chesterfields1780.com	chesterfields1780.com
9	chesterfieldbronzes.com	wikipedia.org	chesterfieldlive.com
10	chesterfield.gov.uk	derbyshiretimes.co.uk	chesterfields.info

As you can see, even seaWhere have the rogue firefox and Opera entries come from? Is it from personalisation as I’m certainly not interested in the riverfront, cylinders or whatever chesterfield.gr is selling etc? Maybe this is a continuation of the internationalisation issues reported in the UK serps of last year?

…or could it be that Google is polluting the SERPS on non Chrome browsers to drive people to use their platform… in which case I’m just adding to the propaganda :/

This also means that when pulling in metrics for SEO clients that you cant rely on the results from one browser and that if personalisation is the cause, that any listings you get on any Google awaye platform will, over time, begin to show non ‘cold hit’ results.

If it is personalisation and you know a way of getting me back to basics then please drop me a line.