Google

Monte Carlo - Google Images SEO

Published: March 10th, 2011

Google never stops surprising me, looking through Webmaster Tools I stumbled across the fact that the Blueclaw site is No 1 in Google’s image search for ‘Monte Carlo’. We’ve had over 100 hits for the keyword ‘Monte Carlo’ during the last few days.

Why are we ranking so highly in Google for this random image? To be frank I’m not too sure, my guess is Google has applied weight to the image due to the fact we’ve used ‘Monte-Carlo’ in the image file name, title attribute and caption text (obvious factors really). Our blog does hold some authority in Google, so perhaps this is another reason why the image ranks. The text surrounding the image also mentions ‘Monte Carlo’. We haven’t added backlinks to the page or the image so direct off-page factors can’t be the reason for the image ranking so well. See the Monte Carlo image on our blog - http://www.blueclaw.co.uk/seo-blog/seo-leeds/623/

What it does show is if you optimise an image in Google and get it to number one it can significantly boost traffic so it’s worth giving it a go. Share your comments below regarding optimising images in Google.

Look number 1 for ‘Monte Carlo’:

monte carlo

Send us your quirky Google rankings and we’ll display the top 10 in our blog.

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Google Targets Spam Content Farms

Published: February 25th, 2011

Google has implemented a major update in its attempt to try and stop low quality spam type sites featuring on its 1st page listings - If your link building and rankings are based on mass content networks, article submissions and lenses then your days could be numbered - Google is after you! The update is currently being rolled out in the US then the rest of the world. Read Google’s official ‘high-quality sites in search’ update.

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My 10 SEO Predictions for 2011

Published: January 5th, 2011

It’s that time of year where everyone speculates and lays down their predictions and I thought what better way to start the New Year than adding my views into the mix.

1. Google Local/Places will be massive this year with many SEO’s offering ‘optimisation’ for this niche field. This is due to the full integration of Google Local/Places (I still don’t know what the true name for this is) into the organic listings for almost any search that includes a place name.

2. The next thing I think will happen… and I’d hazard a guess at this becoming a reality around the end of April 2011, is the integration of Google Local style- non linking citations into the organic rankings algorithm. This will see sites like Yelp becoming more prevalent as emphasis is taken off links and anchor text and reputation taking a stand and being counted. After all Google is interested in showing high quality results, and what better ‘quality’ than sites that have independent citations.

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Long Tail Death?

Published: November 5th, 2010

Dear Google - why is it that when I am searching for “Jim Stewart Coffee Fairtrade” you give me results from a train company I’ve never used and a town council I have never heard of?

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Google diluting organic search results in favour of Local listings

Published: October 28th, 2010

Yesterday Google made a pretty huge announcement in regards to local search queries. Traditionally local listings would appear at the top of the search engine however they will soon integrate these listings within the main organic results as one.

Don’t understand? Here is the official experiment zone:

Google Local Listing

The integration of the listings has moved the map to the right hand side above the sponsored links. Leaving the Google places listings covering seven listings within the typical organic area. There are traditional organic listings but they fall below this and the likelihood of these being clicked has diminished with preference placed on the pushing local businesses.

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