Add A Public Comment To Your Site On Google Search With SearchWiki

Have you checked out Google’s newest creation SearchWiki? SearchWiki is for Google users that are signed into their Google accounts. I don’t know how many users that is but it has to be in the millions at any given time. When SearchWiki was launched a couple of days ago I didn’t give it much thought.

That was until I read a post on John’s Tech Blog Google Turns SEO On It’s Head! John’s post made me go back and pay attention to a Google search that I had just made. I was checking our ad tracking site’s current position by searching ad tracking in Google search -- still number two ;) So I went back and noticed the little icon comment icon where I could add a note to my URL.

YAT_search_result.jpg

I didn’t even think that was so special until I noticed that is was public! Wow, a public comment next to your URL in Google’s search results. SearchWiki does not affect the way websites are ranked by Google but adding a public comment about your site is a great way to make it more visible and perhaps even a little more legitimate in the eyes of some.

Related: The Official Google Blog SearchWiki: make search your own

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23 Comments

Make Money Blogging  on November 22nd, 2008

Hey Brian, big thanks for your chipin! Also, thanks for adding me to your blogroll.. Appreciate that big time!

Make Money Bloggings last blog post..Top 10 for “Make Money Blogging” on Google

Work At Home  on November 22nd, 2008

This is something new that the giant have to offer. Thanks for sharing this info. Now, my comment might appear in your results too.

Work At Homes last blog post..Entrebar Beta 0.9.1 Version Is 100% Better Than 0.9

Brian  on November 22nd, 2008

My pleasure Ben. Content like yours is a benefit to our visitors and subscribers.

Brian  on November 22nd, 2008

Hi Atniz, It’s hard to keep up with the Google creations. I have to admit I use a ton of their services. I hope everyone’s comments eventually appear in our search results.

Content Syndication Network  on November 23rd, 2008

Hi readers posters cool Google gadget fans far n wide… one thing for sure if Google is doing it this will catch on sooner than later I think this will benefit information overload junkies like me there is so much good stuff available online today it makes it hard to keep files on everything you come across on a daily basis so this neat tool should help a lot in this area thanks for the heads up on this it never crossed my in-box before you sent me this email thanks a bunch and thanks Brian for all you have done for me in the past and present…

All my best to you and your success~ezzz
Phillip Skinner

Content Syndication Networks last blog post..“The Content Syndication Network”

Brian  on November 23rd, 2008

Hi Phillip, Glad to help. I’m glad to give you the first ‘heads up’. It really is hard to keep up with everything. I believe I signed up for three new programs this weekend and I have yet to do anything with the last set of profiles I set up. Thanks for the comment.

Sheryl Loch  on November 23rd, 2008

Hey Brian,
I have been watching this whole “do hicky” as so many big sites are posting about it.

My opinion – It will fail.

People are already seeing p-rn and site bashing on the comments.

Many ‘not so nice’ will have their gang write awesome comments about their things & send them out in droves to ‘thumbs down’ & leave bad comments about sites they disagree with.

Depending on what you sell it may have no effect. Most everyday people that shop online will not be using it nor will they take the time to figure out what it does. BUT, if you sell to people that are into all the gadgets – watch out- your competition may come after you.

I personally do not want a bunch of untrustworthy comments to decide if a site is good. I say untrustworthy worthy because I do not know who or why someone left the comment they did.

I will say that I am a SWR Google searcher & seldom have an issue finding exactly what I need. Yet, the common ‘weekend shopper’ just puts in a huge sentence and hits search so, they can have a horrible time finding their product & MAY like the comment reviews (if they even understand wiki).

Also who will vote up Google Ads?

I give it a very short life & only loved by those with a huge following of sheeple that will boost them up.

May the Guru fights begin!!!

Sheryl

ps. I know the 1st forum that will have post (hissy, pissin matches) as to which guru to ‘vote up’. They always have sheeple do their fighting. I am not a member there but, it will get nasty! LOL!

Sheryl Lochs last blog post..How to Zip a File for Free

Brian  on November 23rd, 2008

Wow, I do love your comments Sheryl. Loaded with passion and common sense. I did consider that someone might add a negative comment out of spite but I didn’t think about the gurus sending the masses to do their bidding.

I hadn’t noticed anyone blogging about the subject but to tell you the truth I don’t go on too many guru blogs. Most of the big shot marketers out there seem to treat their blogs the same way they do their email lists – like a cheap classified ad commercial.

I guess I should be a little concerned about bad comments from the competition, especially on the example I used with my ad tracking site. I’ve been running at or near the top of the search results with many of the key words and there is a ton of competition in ad tracking.

I say let the gurus have their sheep fights. I know my blogging friends (you are included) are far too busy to get into that silly mix.

Thanks for the comment. Just seeing your name in my comment’s alert email brings a smile to my face :)

Sheryl Loch  on November 25th, 2008

Brian,
I don’t want to seem like a crazy person but, I just wanted to see if anyone else has thought about this –

Google has been using it’s data for search terms that would indicate flu symptoms and letting the CDC have it so, they (CDC) can track flu trends with the assumption that they will be able to stop outbreaks in areas before they hit. We are told ‘it is to save lives’. They are also looking at using Google data for other diseases, disorders…

We also know that the data as it is, can not pin point where or who the people using these terms for the data are. BUT, with the new Google Wiki, since you have to log in to vote, comment… the person is more traceable. Could it be that Google is budding up with the Government to use searches for tracking people that are searching certain things?

I know it sounds far fetched to some but, look how AT&T jumped on with Government to tap phones even though it was going against the peoples right to privacy. They did this because ‘It could save lives’.

Ok, just a thought!
Sheryl

Sheryl Lochs last blog post..Twitter for Children at Christmas

Brian  on November 25th, 2008

Hi Sheryl, I guess anything is possible and if anyone can put that much data together it’s Google but to what end? The government can already track keywords. In fact, I believe that includes phone conversations. Talk to a friend on the phone and use too many trigger words and you can assume someone may be listening. I imagine the net is no different. I doubt the government needs Google to do that. Besides, if Google is going to control the world they need to conquer the government not help it lol

BTW, that’s the first time I heard about the whole Google/CDC thing. I know, I live under a rock. I’m ok with that as long as the rock has high speed internet ;) Here’s the link if anyone reading this wants verification. http://www.google.org/flutrends/

work at home ideas  on December 30th, 2008

Brian,
Is the note you put on your url permanent because I don’t see it now when I searched for ad tracking.

Peter

Brian  on December 30th, 2008

I lost a lot of ground on Google. I went from #1 to #2 and now #6 for the term Ad Tracker. But the comment was still there. Then I signed out of my Google Gmail account, hit refresh and it disappeared. Signed back in and it was there again. That doesn’t make since. It says, “public comment“.

Just as a test I searched Google for Work From Home Business Blog and of course you are on the front page – number three. I left the following comment:

The Work From Home Business Blog is one of my favorite blogs. It’s loaded with helpful information that any site owner can put to use. Highly recommended.

Work From Home Business Blog

Again, once I signed out of Gmail the comment disappeared. Can you see it?

John's Tech Blog  on January 16th, 2009

Many thanks for the mention!

Personally, I hadn’t considered the impact of adding public comments in this way and I think it’s a fantastic idea! I’m adding a comment to the post on my blog to direct my readers here for more info.

Kind regards,
-John Landells.
[Tech Blogger]

John’s Tech Blogs last blog post..Top 7 Successful Blogs to Follow

Brian  on January 16th, 2009

Thanks John, We’ll take all the links we can get. Hey, you have a great looking blog. I like the theme and noticed the link in the footer. They have a lot of very nice themes. Hard to believe they offer them for free.

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Russ from Christmas Cards  on March 9th, 2009

Google adding comments to the serps is strange, not sure I like the idea, while it could encourage some people at times it could really put people off visiting! The example you have used above mentions a price in it things like that would stop me clicking as i’d think it was a sales website!

Brian  on March 10th, 2009

That’s a good point Russ. At first thought that might be a good thing when looking for targeted traffic. On the other hand I would like potential customers to make the decision after they’ve been to the site not on Google’s search results. I have changed my comment to exclude any pricing. Thanks for the insight.

Kim  on July 5th, 2009

When you log out of google you can’t see the comments you added to a url in the search. Who can see them? I mean if you log out and log in as another user in google then you still can’t see them. So you can only see your own comments.

Brian  on July 6th, 2009

Hi Kim, they seem to be temporary too. Mine have been removed. If you have left a comment on your listing leave the URL of the search result and I’ll see if it’s visible to me. Then we can be sure it’s not our systems.
Brian´s last blog ..Ten Reasons To Start A Paid Membership Site My ComLuv Profile

Arvind Leo Pereira  on September 9th, 2009

Am keen in seeing when my comments would actually populate when regular searches are done.

What is the procedure, is google looking at these comments and then approving them?

Do suggested sites/links/urls eventually throw up while being researched?

If so, how long does it take, for members of public to actually be able to view these comments and when the search engine actually pulls up data.

John  on September 30th, 2009

This is only applicable to the user that is signed in, much like the “Promote” feature. Unfortunately comments will not be seen by other searchers, unless they are logged in to Google as the original user that posted the comment.

Brian D. Hawkins  on September 30th, 2009

Hi Arvind, I don’t think they have to be approved to see but John in the comment below just explained only those logged into Google can view the comments.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog ..Chasing The Guru Ghost My ComLuv Profile

Brian D. Hawkins  on September 30th, 2009

Thanks John, I suspected that it was something like that. I appreciate you clearing that up.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog ..Chasing The Guru Ghost My ComLuv Profile

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