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Its almost the new year and time for the major engines to publish the search statistics for the outgoing year. While not to be used as serious data research (I believe the results are highly filtered) it is still fun to see which terms people are searching for and how they compare to your own top searches. Here they are the top search results for 2006 from the big three engines…
Google Zeitgeist – They were first to do the end of year list and still a fun read today.
Yahoo! Buzz Index – Technically available all year round, the “overall top searches” is a great read
MSN Top of Live Search – They are the new kid on the block, but are not to be out done.
Let us know if you think any important searches are missing or if you are just plain shocked at something on the list. Personally, I have no idea who or what “bebo” is but it made the top of both Google and MSN. Can anyone help me out with this?
Usability of your website is very crucial to its success and often sites make mistakes which have a negative impact on the website. I have comprised a list of top mistakes made today when it comes to usability.
1. Poor categorization and labeling of information
Issues with site structure and the naming system of the main categories are among the most damaging problems for a website. Too often websites reflect the internal structure and labels used by the organization, rather than those of their customers. This can cause the customer to become confused and frustrated, ultimately leaving the site.
2. Poor navigation
Even if a site is well organized and information is in clearly labeled categories, the design of the navigation elements can undo all the good work. Developing a navigation which is easy to use and clearly showcases its sections is key.
3. Cluttered page layout
Many pages are difficult for users to scan because the design is cluttered. Information isn’t aligned and there is too much unused space. The most important information on a page isn’t clear at a glance. Few pages make effective use of section headlines and sub headlines, so that it is obvious how the information on a page is structured.
Good natural search engine rankings are understandably the goal of almost all websites. With the competition so fierce in many markets for these rankings, the major search engines try to keep the playing field level by not divulging to much information about how they rank the sites. If the algorithms were public knowledge, many people would use this information to try and manipulate the rankings to their favor. The smaller or busier webmaster would not have a chance. The fallout of this for SEO is that industry information is fluid. We know the engines change their algorithms on a regular basis and almost everyday new information about site optimization is uncovered and old information is discounted.
Morevisibility’s Natural Search Blog is here to help keep our visitors up to date with these changes and informed about the industry as a whole. Website technology, design, content and marketing all play a major roll in how a site performs in natural search. These factors along with engine specific news or optimization factors, the tidal wave of Social Media Optimization, and general or theoretical topics will be covered.
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