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 
where I could add a note to my URL.
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
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!
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
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
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/
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.
Again, once I signed out of Gmail the comment disappeared. Can you see it?
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]
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The new feature will allow you to bring your favorite search results … At the same time, Google search will drop the SearchWiki feature that