Google Tweaks Algorithm; EHow Traffic Plummets

jfruhlinger writes "For some time there's been rumbling that Google's search results have been gummed up by low-quality pages from 'content farms,' written at low or no cost specifically to score high on common Google queries. Now it looks like the latest update to Google's search algorithm is having an effect, cutting into traffic to eHow (and cutting down the stock price of eHow's owner, Demand Media, in the process)."

Comments

Already done.

[kcbnac]

Previous Slashdot discussion:
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/03/11/1711252/Google-Introduces-Domain-Blocking-To-Search

Article discussing how:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/hide-sites-to-find-more-of-what-you.html

Re:Already done.

[Maximum Prophet]

You have to be logged into a google service, click on a link in the search results, go back, then just that link will have the "Block" button. It took me a few tries before it worked for me.

Even better, you can go right to http://www.google.com/reviews/t to set things up in bulk. Then, when you search, at the bottom of the page should be a link like "Some items were blocked, click to see"

Re:Already done.

[Maximum Prophet]

You can go right to http://www.google.com/reviews/t to set things up in bulk. You do have to be logged into a google service first, and for the blocking to work.

Re:Already done.

[onepoint]

Well google does cover that, just in case you do read Klingon, they want everyone to be able to read it http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-klingon

Re:Hit me badly too

[drinkypoo]

I think Google have made a massive error here - by saying they can gauge the quality of a website (and its usefulness) algorithmically is arrogant and short-sighted. I hope they figure this out quickly. I really do hate having to sell stuff, even my own work!

You have it entirely backwards. Google has made the only intelligent decision here, by saying that they cannot possibly gauge the quality of all websites manually, and sticking to their guns about doing it programatically. That way, suing them over your position in the rankings is much more difficult because they can prove a lack of favoritism.

Re:like many programmers

[mysidia]

however, not once, in years, have i seen "experts exchange" written in such a way in your post that it makes me think "expert sex change"

It's obviously a cold cruel jab based on an old gaffe that was their original doman name; Initially the URL of the site was expertsexchange.com, but because of the potential for confusion, the domain name was subsequently changed to experts-exchange.com. Experts-Exchange went bankrupt in 2001 after venture capitalists moved the company to San Mateo, CA, and was brought back largely through the efforts of unpaid volunteers.

The period following the bankruptcy recovery was marked by a rapid growth and expansion of the knowledge base and saw technical advances. Experts-Exchange was chosen as a runner-up for Best web resource for developers award by VSJ on 2006

Re:Hit me badly too

[bill_mcgonigle]

On my netbook, when I navigate to your site I see two pictures, a couple menus and a bunch of ads on the first screen. I have to scroll down to the second page to even get an idea about what kind of content your site offers. That's very atypical for a good website.