Vertical Creep in Search Results Should Organic Optimizers be Concerned
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory SEO.
Vertical Creep in Search Results: Should Organic Optimizers Be Concerned?
Summary:
This week, we'll delve into some intriguing sessions from the Search Engine Strategies conference in New York City. Last year, I had the privilege of speaking at this event, and I found it to be a treasure trove of information, despite some contradictions. It's also an excellent opportunity to connect with remarkable individuals and gain direct insights from search engine representatives. Overall, it's an experience worth having.Article:
Though I couldn't attend this year, I managed to keep up with the updates through some excellent reports. Let me share a summary of the most notable sessions. One key topic that stood out was Vertical Creep.
What Is Vertical Creep?
Vertical Creep occurs when non-organic and non-paid results start occupying top positions in search results. This phenomenon began back in the Altavista days and has since evolved into an integral part of search engine results pages. Greg Jarboe first brought this to light, discussing its impact and the introduction of verticals.
The Role of Verticals Today
Virtually all search engines incorporate verticals now. Google's OneBox, appearing below top sponsored ads but above organic results, showcases content such as news, shopping (Froogle), and images relevant to a search query. For example, searching for "Olympics" on Google often yields video results at the top. Similarly, a search for "New Orleans" displays news and map results, pushing organic results further down the page.
Impact on Search Results
One major consequence of verticals is the stretching of the search results page. Organic results beyond the top two lose visibility since they may fall below the fold, while sponsored results gain prominence due to fewer visible organic listings.
However, Gord Hotchkiss's research shows the impact varies across search engines. While Google users have adapted to vertical integration, Yahoo! and MSN users tend to scan more results, reducing the verticals' influence on organic listings. This discrepancy suggests Google's users may be more accepting of these changes.
Practical Implications for Search Marketers
Bob Carilli's case study highlighted the effectiveness of optimizing verticals. In one instance, they created an optimized data feed for Froogle, elevating their client to the top Froogle listings for competitive keywords. This success underlines the importance of exploring multiple verticals, beyond just SEO and PPC.
Exploring Opportunities
Google offers numerous verticals, including Google News, Froogle, Google Local, Google Base, and Google Video. Similarly, Yahoo! and MSN provide various channels to explore, such as their shopping portals and news, video, and local results.
Conclusion
Verticals might serve as a strategic alternative for those unable to compete organically or pay for top sponsored spots. By optimizing across multiple verticals, marketers can potentially outshine competitors in more specific areas.
Embracing these opportunities could become a cost-effective strategy in the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Vertical Creep in Search Results Should Organic Optimizers be Concerned .
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.