As of late November, Google account users can now personalize their search engine results pages (SERPs) after entering a search query. It’s called Google SearchWiki, and it allows searchers who are logged in to their Google account to add, delete, make comments and move results up or down the SERP.
Yesterday I decided to give it the ol’ Oneupweb review and searched Michigan cross country skiing to find trails, maps, ski reports and rates at local ski resorts. Notice the new buttons on my search result page:
A few sites did not adhere to my liking, so I “deleted” those results. I use “bunny ears” on deleted as the result is merely moved to the bottom of the SERP.
I happened to come across a search result that had everything I was looking for: maps, ski reports, rates, etc, but it was listed at the bottom of the page. All I had to do was hit the promote arrow…
…and my favorite result was moved to the top of the page.
I also made a comment about the trails and maps this site offered, so in the future when I typed in Michigan cross country skiing I would know this result listed the trails I was interested in.
But then again, I could have just bookmarked the page.
Google SearchWiki modifications only change your account’s SERP results; someone else typing in the same query will not see your changes as those pertain to your Google account only. The SearchWiki also does not affect Paid search ads, so fret not PPCers, your ads will still display as usual.
This new feature will undoubtedly help Google further research search behavior, and possibly help with results down the road. Google’s SearchWiki is yet another item Google has punched out to help better “user experience” while at the same time obtaining tons of data to learn more about you.
Customizing your SERP pages is handy if you are one of those people who conduct repetitive searches over and over again looking for the same sites. My remedy to that is to bookmark the pages you like or will most likely visit again.
The official Oneupweb Review… I give this feature a so-so.
If interested here’s more information from Google about SearchWiki:
If you have a search-related tool/site/necessity you would like the bloggers here at Oneupweb to review, please leave us a comment and let us know.
Editor’s Note: In addition to our reviews of search-related tools, you can also read social networking reviews on StraightUpSocial and miscellaneous Oneupweb Reviews on Epinions.
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