Everything Is Broken

is that site gone now? That page mentioned is empty now, while 'www.onlinehome.us' redirects to '1&1 Internet Inc.'...

(In spite of that homepage redirect) that site is still up, and if you click on one of the subdomain listings from within the Google results (where it is ranking everywhere) you still end up getting pages full of AdSense ads :)

Maybe, they need to spend less time on developing other un-related search engine services, and focus on making search work correctly. Maybe, Matt isn't on vacation.. hmmmm

Everyday I deal with people asking why site: or link: dont work, where their listings disappeared to...
I posted a blog entry about putting all our searches in google...and every day it seems more and more people are concerned.
Hey! Maybe MSN Live! will save the day ;)

The question is if the average user does even notice any changes at all. I bet not.

And I wouldn't sell my shares :-)

I've actually stopped using Google for my regular search results. I've found ixQuick meta search engine to be more relevant than most of the major search engines.

Google's search is nearing pathetic. Their only saving grace is that everyone else's search is even more pathetic.

Google's search isn't pathetic, but it has gotten worse enough for me to start using Yahoo more and more laterly.

The way I look at it is, if Google can't index all of my pages correctly (even with a sitemap) then this must be happening to other sites. I know Yahoo has my pages indexed so I use them more and more now.

My post was more about the ranking criteria being screwed more than the indexing issues, although there are those too.

And I am not just trying to recommend the search engines that patronize my websites...I have plenty of sites that rank well in Google even though I have no business being an authority on those topics.

Google's Australian (.com.au) results are so bad they are unusable. I was searching for a product from a shop last night and all I got was university papers.

I agree with you Aaron and most of the comments posted here. The game has always been Google's to lose and it seems as though they are doing exactly that right now. It appears that in attempt to combat spam and make their search product more efficient, they are actually doing the opposite!

I've been considering a move to Yahoo! for my regular searches for some time, problem is - Google kinda' have me trapped because I love my personalised homepage and Gmail too much!

How likely is it that the average user notices? Google is still growing in search volume, every month, according to all reports.

hey Jon - you can always carry on using your beloved gmail, while leaving your customised homepage alone... :)

Not anti-google, just trying to be friendly,
-Jeff

I posted an article on this topic. I find Google's search results to be terrible.

http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/showthread.php?t=836

I was making an online poll on WebProWorld - very reputable forum.

And up to one third of the voted said that if Google continues to give this level of search results, they will quite using Google. And another third will be using Google only backing the results with Yahoo and MSN.

4,000+ people viewed my poll thread, 120+ replied to thread, and 89 actively voted.

Surely this is not all online community, but I think the results are shocking. To lose one third of the market is too bad for Google.

You can be sure G will bounce back. Although it's taking longer than anticipated. I'd say the majority of average web users are noticing how Google blows in serps these days. And has for a while now. The longer it takes to clean up their act, the more likely they'll lose market share. I think it's only a matter of time before MSN (or someone else) swoops in with a solution that makes more sense.

google search results are pathetic.

s168897611.onlinehome.us/dir/?go51648.html

Aaron,

Can you help us understand how these guys are able to show up on google for every search no matter what the keyword is.

I searched a variety of keywords and to my suprise they show up for every one of them.

Looks like they have an optimization or scam that is working and yielding results. I am very curious to find out how they manage to use a generic domain name with no links but still manage to top the results.

Looks like Google is losing its edge.

Type in any mortgage related keyword, the above site shows up. I believe the site is currently showing up for any keyword out there in the top 3 pages.

Thanks.

That is a person who is hitting Google's algorithmic holes pretty hard. They had other similar sites that tanked and recently started that one.

Notice that the end distination of many of the pages is an AdSense page, so Google is paying for that stuff.

I just typed in "google search engine getting worse" on Google and came on this site. I have no clue what is going on. I am an "average" user. All I know is that the past few weeks of searches have seemed to yield much less than the usual stellar results from Google. I'm sure many normal searchers are noticing this. Again, I don't know what is going on, just know I'm frustrated!!!