And another update from Google that would slap any website showing excessive ads above the fold. They called it Page Layout Algorithm Improvement update. I see both goods and bads for this change and noticed mixed reactions from others (most of them were totally negative though looking at Google’s own biased ads loaded search page). The change is implemented in attempt to enhance the user experience and find only high quality and most relevant websites in search results.

The algorythm says that sites that places too many ads above the fold compromising the real content availability for users will be penalized and the ones not complying to this change may not rank higher anymore.

In their own words, “This algorithmic change does not affect sites who place ads above- the-fold to a normal degree, but affects sites that go much further to load the top of the page with ads to an excessive degree or that make it hard to find the actual original content on the page.

What does they mean with “normal degree”?

It could be 1 or maximum 2 ads while keeping the user engaged and attracted to real and relevant content that brough him to the
website from search engine rankings.

When it comes to above the fold, website owners can check their browsers size using tools like browser tool at Google labs and
others. It’d help them restructure their page to pretend more relevant to Google’s new page layout change.

My Opinions and Thoughts

First of all what would content mean here?

Images, banners, graphics, text, animations that doesn’t direct the user to other website is a content.

Anything that redirects user to another website would be considered as an ad. Now this change is going to negatively influence the
popularity of banner ads and favor in-text links.

Websites and blogs that make a good income from sidebar banner spots would be upset. Made for adsense templates will have no value
anymore.

Websites would love to use useability tools like Crazyegg to have an idea of user response.

Because Google still ranks websites based upon more of content, there should be more room for SEO optimized content and tags.

With some quick searches, I don’t see much of the differences in results and Google says this update would affect the search by 1% only.

If your analytics and stats gave you lesser traffic data, this is a signal to do some homework and restructure the website. Even if yor rankings are shuffled because of this page layout Google update, it can be recovered as soon as your website is recrawled.

We all know that Google is constantly changing the game. They make the rules and we better play by it or lose at it. Google caused a major surge again this week by launching what they call ‘Search Plus Your World’.

What it does is mix what you’ve shared privately and that which comes from the web into a single set of listings. The change is said to already be live for those searching while logged into their Google account and who’s searching in English. This new feature plans to make search easier to fuse the two together so it’s not necessary to choose the different options and switch.

There are concerns across the web that privacy may be compromised, but testing shows that although it seems that private content is shared live, it is said to be private results. Other concerns are that content shared may not be intended to be shared to those that receive the results. It looks like a new search engine war is looming as Google seems to be favoring its own platforms.

Let’s have a look at more detailed features and how they could affect you.

Personalized and social search before the roll-out

Since June 2005, Google have been playing around with different approaches to personalized results. And throughout testing this new way of search, consumers were automatically opted in to this option without being approached. Around 2009 social impact were measured on content and it started to influence what is listed in the results. They were segregated before but since February 2011 have been fused with other results.

A marriage between personal, private, public and social

Danny from searchengineland covers this update nicely referring Amit Singhal’s personal search screenshots. There are 2 views available in Search Plus Your World. The personal view is on by default and personalizes the listing based on your connections and your own behavior online. This includes using influences from the Google + platform.

Here is what personalized results will now include:

• Everything that used to appear before search plus your world launch

PLUS

• Pages and sites from the web, boosted by your own personal behavior.
• Pages and sites boosted because of your social connections. (You’d note the note “You shared this” or “YourFriend shared this”…)
• Public Google + posts, Photos or Google Picassa photos
• Private or limited Google+ posts, Photos or Google Picassa photos shared with you

Yep, private content will now be visible all across the web.

This is all only when you’re logged in. You still have unbiased search results if opt to see un-personalized results. So it is your Google’s world.  You’re not private among your friends and social connections anymore.

Facebook and other social media platforms shut out?

Facebook is probably one of the biggest depositories of private content. However, Facebook is not included in this new search, neither is any other social media platform. The reason for that is because Facebook and Twitters’ terms of service do not allow Google to deeply crawl them.

Suggestions for pages and people remain in the Google camp.

When you search for something keeping personalized search on, you tend to get compromised results that makes no sense to your search. SPUW update may contribute to credibility and trust but not relevance.

How it’s going to Impact SEO?

SEO is unaffected as long as search is unpersonalized. However, I’d try to see more of positive factors when I know I’d go by the updates.

1-      It becomes more challenging than recent panda update because getting people like your content (something you don’t control) is tougher than getting unique content written (all under your control)

2-      Get more and more Google+ connections so you get maximum chances of connecting to your audience and influence maximum personalized results.

3-      This is going to influence local searches bigtime. It is easier to control (rather maximize) your local connections and influence the search results ensuring better business, sales and branding.

As is evident, Google favors Google. Naturally. If I was Google, I would probably do the same. If you were ignoring Google plus for any reason, you have no good option but to start using it now.

An Overview of SOPA And How It Affects You!

If you have been paying even only a little bit of attention the last couple months to platforms like news feeds, leading websites and even Twitter (the micro-blogging platform where revolutions are started), you would have noticed a lot of online chatter about SOPA. Sounds like somehow near around on JAN 23rd, all the internet world will going to blackout on this date.

What is SOPA?
SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act (HR. 3261) was probably started with good intentions. It was introduced in the U.S House of Representatives on October 26 2011 and sounds good on the outset or upon introduction, because the Bill would expand the ability of U.S Law Enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. Let’s look at what this means:

What will SOPA do?
Well, well look at the surface first. The ‘good intentions’ part. As the bill was proposed originally, it will empower both the U.S Department of Justice as well as copyright holders to seek court orders against websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement.

What’s the problem?
Well, as this article progresses, you will see lot’s of problems cropping up. We will look at them, but here are a few on the surface:

The bill has been criticized by many online entities as being too vague.
The actions could give power to have a certain website, let’s say yours, who have only been accused, have the following entities barred:

Paypal from doing business with yours.
Online advertising networks from working with you.
Search engines from linking to your site, or ranking it.
Requiring Internet Service Providers to block access to your sites.
It would make unauthorized streaming of copy written material a crime with a penalty of 3 years in jail.

I know, those sound great (some of it) but the problem is the power it gives lawmakers and Law enforcement agencies. The internet has always had pride in the fact that it ‘sort of’ protects free speech. Imagine a government bill (like this one) is being passed and there’s an uproar on Twitter about it (like there currently is), and Twitter is ordered to NOT publish any tweets about it? Scary.

There are two camps in this ‘struggle. And here is a synopsis of their stances:
Proponents say it protects the intellectual property market and corresponding industries, jobs and revenue and is necessary so that action could be taken against sites that infringe on copyright laws – especially foreign sites.
Opponents of the bill is of the opinion that it infringes on First Amendment Rights. And as the best form of internet censorship, will cripple it completely. It will also threaten whistle blowing (like WikiLeaks) and other kinds of free speech. A similar bill is being tabled in South Africa, called ‘The Protection of State Information Bill’.

SOPA until now.
Lets look at a little history of published material around SOPA.

Godaddy’s presence on a supporter list sparks an impromptu user exodus.

With the exodus, Namecheap accuses Godaddy of blocking domain transfers. (Dec 26)

Andrew Keen from TechChrunch weighs in that he doesn’t think it will kill the internet. (Nov 14th)

House minority speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has come out against SOPA (Nov 17th).

‘I work for the internet’ is launched where people can upload their photos and occupation to show Congress on whose side they should be on. (December 12th).

Warren Adelman, GoDaddy’s CEO, does damage control after it’s reversal of stance on SOPA. (Dec 23rd).

GoDaddy’s name is removed from the House of Reps SOPA supporter list (Dec 27th)

A public internet outcry starts, right before the bill is ‘quietly’ passed (Nov 16th).

Eric Smidt from Google calls the bill ‘censorship’, becoming the most high-profile opponent of the Bill. (Nov 15th).

Startup SendWrite launches an initiative to send Congress a real, physical letter denouncing SOPA (Dec 15th).

Tumblr launches an initiative to give people access to their representative. (Nov 16th).

A judge applies a SOPA-esque solution seizing 228 domain for counterfeit goods. (Nov 28th).

The Stanford Law Review posts an article saying the act nullifies due process and questions its constitutionalism. (December 19th).

With 50 objections and proposed amendments, SOPA is delayed until after the holidays. (Dec 16th).

Brad Burnham, a managing partner at Union Square Ventures, came into the TCTV studio in New York City to explain why SOPA is misguided and how it threatens to break the internet. (Dec 15th)

Scribd Protests SOPA By Making A Billion Pages On The Web Disappear (Dec 21)

TechCruch interviews Congressman Bill Owens about his support of the act (Dec 23rd).

Ben Huh, CEO of Cheezburger, says he will take his 1000+ domains elsewhere if GoDaddy keeps its support of SOPA. (Dec 22nd).

Paul Graham removes invites to YC Demo Day of employees of companies that SOPA.

Over 40 internet companies come out in opposition of SOPA (Dec 22nd).

GoDaddy goes from ‘not support’ to ‘opposes’ SOPA. The day dubbed ‘leave GoDaddy day’. (Dec 29th).

That’s a little internet revolution for you right there. Let’s look, in point form, what are the arguments for and against SOPA, and then I’ll leave you to your thoughts.

Arguments for SOPA.
It will protect revenue for content creators.
Protection against counterfeit drugs.

Arguments against SOPA.
It’s a threat against online freedom of speech.
It will have a negative impact on web hosting services.
It’s a general threat against web related services.
It’s a threat to user uploading content.
It’s a threat to internal networks.
It’s a threat to open source software.
It hasn’t got an effect on piracy.

Weakening of Digital Millennium Copyright Act protections for websites
Its deep-packet inspection and an invasion of privacy.
It has a negative impact on DNS, DNSSEC and internet security.
There’s a lack of transparency in its enforcement.

As you can see, it has a lot more arguments against it than there are pro-arguments. And it seems that its intentions were good initially, but it’s implications would have a great negative impact on the life of the internet as a whole.
Your turn.

Weigh in on the discussion today. Make your voice be heard. Share your sentiments in the comments below or join some of the many movement opposing SOPA and get involved before it is too late.

Sources: TechCruch.com and Wikipedia.com