Second Google Experiment: KidsCorner goes from 11 to 1!

Our second google experiment has resulted in moving my sister's site from 11 to 1 on the keyword phrase outdoor trampolines chester.

That's pretty amazing!

Experiment Update: nworbxela

We are now in day 19 of our search engine experiment.

There are 71 results in google for nworbxela This blog remains number one on the list of results. Number two is still Luxury Automobiles, and number three also remains Bath Rugby Fans Abroad. Inside Dewey Beach is now number 4. America the Next Rome has now slipped to 6.

Looking at these results it seems including the keyword in the title and the URL gets the best results. This is the case for the top four listed. The fifth, Laguna Beach adopted a tactic closer to 'spamming' the keyword in an entry.

There are now 16 results in Yahoo, the one-two-three being America The Next Rome, Laguna Beach, and this class. Three days ago the first two were reversed.

Yahoo seems to reward the spamming approach more than google at this point of the experiment.

There are now 52 results in MSN. The one-two-three being this class site (moving up from 5th), The class wiki, and Bath Rugby Fans Abroad. Inside Dewey Beach was pushed to 5th from 3rd, with Laguna Beach coming in 4th.

It makes sense this class is number 1 (for the same reasons it is number 1 in google). The class wiki as number 2 is odd. The only explanation I can offer is the number of links pointing to the wiki, from sites that contain the keyword, has pushed this site up the rankings, despite the keyword:

a: not appearing on the wiki, or
b: not appearing as part of the anchor link pointing to the wiki from the sites that contain the keyword.

Numbers 3 and 4 used the spamming approach, whereas number 5 includes the keyword in the title and URL.

Looking at the 'time-based' blog search engines there are 19 results in technorati, 47 results in google's blog search and 30 results in feedster.

Experiment Update: nworbxela

We are now in day 16 of our search engine experiment.

There are 48 results in google for nworbxela This blog is now number one on the list of results. Number two is Luxury Automobiles, number three is Bath Rugby Fans Abroad, pushing America the Next Rome from number 1 to 4.

There are 9 results on Yahoo, the one-two-three being Laguna Beach, America The Next Rome and this class.

There are 42 results in MSN. The one-two-three being The class wiki, Bath Rugby Fans Abroad and Inside Dewey Beach. This site ranks fifth.

Looking at the 'time-based' blog search engines there are 14 results in technorati, 54 results in google's blog search and 25 results in feedster.

Final exam results e-mailed

I have sent out an e-mail that includes your result for the final.

Your wiki project work will be graded from thursday, december 14.
Your blog project work will be graded from saturday, december 16.

cheers, alex

Experiment Update: nworbxela

We are now in day eleven of our search engine experiment and there are 29 results in google for nworbxela This blog is still not included, and according to google's cache has not yet been crawled (explaining the lack of inclusion). This is odd. Google is usually quicker than that! America the Next Rome remains the current top entry. There are 11 results on Yahoo and 29 results in MSN. This site is included in MSN which is reflected in the cache. The following entry pushes Bath Rugby Fans Abroad ahead of others in MSN. The entry, however, is yet to appear in google.


Looking at the 'time-based' blog search engines there are 12 results in technorati, 35 results in google's blog search and 13 results in feedster.

Phishing Example

I received this e-mail, which is clearly an example of phishing. The giveaway:

The link is to www.amazon.com.encrypted-session128.info - ie the domain is encrypted-session128.info - nothing to do with Amazon.

Here is the e-mail:

Dear Amazon member,
>
Due to concerns we have for the safety and integrity of the Amazon community we have issued this warning.
>
Per the User Agreement, Section 9, we may immediately issue a warning, temporarily suspend, indefinitely suspend or terminate your membership and refuse to provide our services to you if we believe that your actions may cause financial loss or legal liability for you, our users or us. We may also take these actions if we are unable to verify or authenticate any information you provide to us.

Please follow the link below:

http://www.amazon.com.encrypted-session128.info?/exec/obidos

and update your account information.

We apreciate your support and understanding, as we work together to keep Amazon market a safe place to trade.

Thank you for your attention on this serious matter.

Regards,
Amazon Safety Department


NOTE: This message was sent to you by an automated e-mail system. Please don't reply to it. Amazon treats your personal information with the utmost care, and our Privacy Policy is designed to protect you and your information.

Quick note on comment spam and our second google experiment

This comment is trying to achieve similar results as our second google experiment.

Whereas our experiment is designed to try to increase the ranking of Kidscorner.uk.com for the search term outdoor trampolines chester, the comment spam is trying to increase the ranking of instantaudio.com for the search term internet marketing success.

Final: answers and questions

Answers to these sample questions:

c. search engine ads
d. smaller advertisements are always more effective
c. The number of outbound links from the page contributes to the 'PageRank' score
e. All the above are essential to your SEO strategy
a. has been called the third significant transformation of the retail industry.

A couple of additional questions:

Permission marketing
a. by email is a long-term promotion strategy designed to establish a meaningful relationship with customers.
b. is spam, a short-term promotion strategy.
c. is illegal.
d. is unsolicited commercial email.
e. is an opt-out promotion strategy.

Google hacking is a result of each of the following except:
a. google's ability to recall mass amounts of data
b. including special characters in the search term to refine the search further (i.e. + to include a word; - to eliminate a word)
c. web masters placing files on the public internet that should not be so displayed
d. all the above are conditions present to create the opportunity for google hacking

Example Questions

Earlier than I had thought, here are a few example questions for the final. I will post the answers later on tuesday along with a couple of additional qestions.

_____ are currently the hottest form of online advertising.
a. Blogads
b. Banner ads
c. Search engine ads
d. Pop-under ads
e. Floating ads

Mobile marketing will become more important for all the following reasons except:
a. the number of mobile devices sold (PDAs, Cell Phones) dwarfs the number of PCs sold
b. mobile devices can be used to market to a consumer using GPS (Global Positioning System)
c. telephone companies can use usage data to target advertisements
d. smaller advertisements are always more effective
e. all the above are reasons for the rapid growth of marketing via mobile devices.

All the following are true about the 'PageRank' algorithm used by Google except:
a. A hyperlink to a page counts as a 'vote of support'
b. The name 'PageRank' is a pun of the name of one of the Google founders
c. The number of outbound links from the page contributes to the 'PageRank' score
d. Not only is the page ranked by the number of pages that link to the page, but also by the value of the pages (with respect to their own PageRank) that link to the page
e. All the above are true with respect to the 'PageRank' algorithm

Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical to your internet marketing program. All the following are essential to your SEO strategy except:
a. Identification of appropriate keyword phrases
b. Inclusion of keyword phrases in the body text of pages of the site
c. Inclusion of keyword phrases in the title tag of each page of the site
d. Network with other sites to ensure links coming into the site
e. All the above are essential to your SEO strategy

The Internet
a. has been called the third significant transformation of the retail industry.
b. has had almost no impact on traditional retailing.
c. has been called the fifth significant transformation of the retail industry.
d. has almost destroyed traditional retailing.
e. has not yet transformed the retail industry but industry analysts are very hopeful that it will in the future.

Experiment Update: nworbxela

We are now in day seven of our search engine experiment and there are 26 results in google for nworbxela This blog is still not included, and according to google's cache has not yet been crawled (explaining the lack of inclusion). America the Next Rome remains the current top entry. It is also interesting to note there is 2 results on Yahoo and 23 results in MSN. This site is included in MSN which is reflected in the cache.

Looking at the 'time-based' blog search engines there are 6 results in technorati, but 26 results in google's blog search and 9 results in feedster.

A second google experiment: KidsCorner and ''outdoor trampolines chester"

As we continue with our current google experiment to get the keyword nworbxela to represent all our class blogs I propose a second (somewhat self serving) experiment. My sister runs a kids shop in the UK called KidsCorner. Currently it is ranked 11th on the keyword search outdoor trampolines chester.

Since google uses a PageRank algorithm to help rank order search results it means that sites with links coming in to the site make the site more relevant. And all the more so if the keyword phrase used to link to the site is the same as the keyword phrase being searched (remember the google bomb example).

For our second google experiment, I am asking you to create an entry on your blog that includes the following link: outdoor trampolines chester. Thus the link goes to www.kidscorner.uk.com but the phrase used for the hyperlink is outdoor trampolines chester. Lets see if we can push kidscorner to the first page of results.

Online Course Evaluations

Please access UD Course Evaluations to complete your evaluation for this course. This site is open through December 8.

Final Study Guide

What is being tested:

• Slides and book chapters from 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12
  
• At least one question from each Wiki Presentation
  
• Skype presentations from David Brown, Donal Reddington and Robert Scoble
  
• For readings it is best to try to understand the readings in the context of the ideas discussed in the book
  
• You do not need to memorize data. Critical to your success in the final (and the course in general) will be your understanding of concepts and terminology
  

Examples of terminology that may be tested:

• Chapter 5: Phishing
  
• Chapter 5: Spyware
  
• Chapter 5: Google Hacks
  
• Chapter 9: Copyleft
  
• Chapter 9: Open Source
  
• Chapter 9: Network Effect
  
• Chapter 11: Disintermediation
  
• Chapter 11: Channel Conflict
  
• Chapter 12: Search Engine Optimization
  
• Chapter 12: Pay per click
  

Example of blog entries that may be covered:

• Wikipedia Interview
  
• Internet Security: Dave Brown; Perfiliate.com (at least 2 questions)
  
• Linux Desktop Standards
  
• Web 2.0 and your project work (at least 2 questions)
  
• A second google experiment: KidsCorner and "outdoor trampolines chester"
  

Feedback on your Blog

You should all have received an e-mail with some feedback on your blog project. Examples of blogs that I have identified as looking great include:

• The World of Fashion
  
• Laguna Beach
  
• Luxury Automobiles
  
• Torino 2006 Olympic Games
  

If your blog is not listed above, it does not mean I was not enthusistic about it. I only listed a few of those I thought were in great shape. Looking at the above blogs may inspire you for enhancements to your blog.

Experiment Update: nworbxela

After day four there are 14 results in google for nworbxela This blog is not yet included, and according to google's cache has not yet been crawled (explaining the lack of inclusion). America the Next Rome is the current top entry. It is also interesting to note there is 1 result on Yahoo and 10 results in MSN. Again, according to the MSN's cache this class blog has not yet been crawled. America the Next Rome is also the top result in MSN.

Looking at the 'time-based' blog search engines I was surprised to find there are still no results in technorati, but 21 results in google's blog search and 6 results in feedster.

Project Due Dates Extended

Given the reality of when I will be able to get things graded I have extended your project due dates.

Your wiki work will be graded AFTER the end of day, Wednesday, December 14.
Your blog work will be graded AFTER the end of day, Friday, December 16.