Google search shows you the results you want to see

Google, Facebook, and Yahoo are getting better at showing you the search results you want to see. Before they decide what to show you, they take a look at who you are and what you like. They know these things from your previous likes and page views.

Different people see different things, but it’s hard to tell because most viewers like the Google search results they see.

It’s called personally tailored internet search results. But, it also means there is no longer such a things as an objective search of the Internet. You are now in a “Filter Bubble.”

Eli Pariser did some research on the issue and gave a TED talk called “Beware Online ‘Filter Bubbles‘”. He asked freinds to Google “Egypt.” Some searchers saw news links about the protests and crisis in Egypt. Othere saw links to travel sites about vacationing in Egypt, with no mention of turmoil even though it was the news of the day.

Even when you are not signed in to a Google account, like Gmail, YouTube, or Google search, there are 57 signals that are used to decide what Google search results you will see. Google knows things like where you are, what computer you are on, what browser you are using.

What does this mean for Local Search

It’s good in the sense that you can now more easily find the local information you are looking for. But if you are a business looking to see how well you are ranking, it can be deceiving.

Let’s say you are an insurance agent and you google your keyword “insurance paso robles.” Well Google knows what you want to see and will show your business ranking higher than it actually appears to everyone else on the web.

You can overcome some of this bias by using the “incognito” mode in the Google Chrome browser and logging out of your Google account. You can also have companies like Access Publishing prepare an unbiased local search ranking report for you to review.

Posted by Scott Brennan, Access Publishing 607 Creston Rd Paso Robles, CA 93446 scott@accesspublishing.com (805) 226-9890.

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