Optimizing for Integrated Vertical Search or Google’s Universal Search
Posted By Melanie Prough on May 5, 2009
Universal Search is Google’s program for delivery the long overlooked vertical results to the users intermingled with regular results. They have have been running this new strategy since May 2007, with some promising results. Currently Google offers results from images, maps, books, and video vertical results to be integrated. We are not going to cover all of these, as some are very specialized. I promise this won’t cost a thing!
Submit to the Google Directory, you will see Google on the top but DMOZ when you submit. If you have submitted to The Open Directory Project (DMOZ) in the last 3 months, I caution you that it could hold up your submission. On the other hand, the DMOZ has been trickling along for a while now, and a submission from Google’s Directory may grab more attention. Tough call! Here are some submission tips:
- Dig deep into the directory to increase your odds.
- Submit cleanly navigated sites.
- Submit to the proper category.
- If its a blog keep the posts on topic.
- Too many affiliate links will get you tossed out.
- If its incredibly slow, it won’t be listed.
- Meta violations or stuffing will be and exit ticket.
- Broken links will get the site tossed also.
In the end, they are not going to notify you either way if you are listed or not. It will take 3 to 6 months, and that is only relevant to their load at the time of submission. The rule I was taught is this: Wait 4 months, if its not listed, reevaluate the site and resubmit. If you resubmit too soon and you submission is still pending, a new submission will hold it up further. The DMOZ forum is a good resource for help.
Submit Businesses to Google Maps. Log in with your GMail ID and create your listing, its free and Google will toss your listing in will regular search results for your area! Choose your search terms / categories. In the custom screen you can even link to professional organizations the business belong to for example. My suggestion is to treat is like a web page, keep it concise and relevant.
List Items for Sale on Google Base. Google Base is also free, and gets your site in regular results. The “ads” run for 30 days maximum, and you are allowed pretty much full html less scripts and such. Although untested, I think as long as they are not duplicate you would be permitted to publish as many as you like. Google ask certain question about what you are peddling name brand, condition, your description, ads or promo expiration date, price, and the product type/venue. Ideally the item you are selling matters little, it is the door you are opening to the remainder of your site that is the gold mine. So it’s okay to be a little broad in your description to get folks in the door, then if they like your ad, picture, and price…they will visit your site! BINGO!!! You can even reference specific pages, “if you like this tool box you might like this” link link link.
Google Video Results. Even before Google bought YouTube, it was crawling the web feverishly collecting video for Google Video. This I will tell you I have tested myself. Google is HOT on the trail of video media. So if you want to break in to the Video vertical integrated results, then get a video on your site. If you have a blog, use a video once a week. You don’t have to make these videos, I use YouTube Videos with much success. Unfortunately for the authors, until the really get watermarking going these videos won’t throw a duplicate content red flag…they aren’t content, they are just another file.
Google Image Results. This is the easiest of all. Just use Google’s Webmaster’s Tools and turn on Enhanced Image Search, then users will get your site vertically from image search for free. Check out our step by step guide to setting up your Google Webmaster Tools.
Peace and SEO
Melanie Prough
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