What, Exactly, is Search Engine Spam?

There is a subtle boundary that separates acceptable search engine optimization practices from the shadier techniques used by spammers.

Spam is defined as "pages created deliberately to trick the search engine into offering inappropriate, redundant, or poor-quality search results”.

In this article, based on a Search Engine Strategies Conference, it is suggested that site owners make sure that the content benefits the target audience—site visitors—and is not just thrown on a page to skew the search engine ranking algorithms.

A list of sixteen tactics is given which are considered to be search engine spam. Search engines like Yahoo take spam reports seriously in order to try and eliminate spam techniques and all the major search engines have formal spam reporting procedures in place.

Read the full article at
http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php/3483601

22/02/2005

OTHER NEWS AT A GLANCE

The TV adverts are plainer but can Microsoft really beat Google?
The latest incarnation of the Microsoft (MSN) search site has been unveiled in 24 countries and in 10 languages after public tests, with a revamp designed to give better search options and more relevant results than previously, and with plainer advertising.

Revolutionary Airfare Search Engine Unlocks "Hidden" Low Fares
Today’s launch of http://www.Ufly4less.com, a new low fare airline search engine, strips away all of the complexity whereby airlines disguise the lowest fares in a maze of search options, and guarantees bargain-minded travellers will always find the lowest airfare across all of the major U.K. and Irish-based budget airlines regardless of their travel dates.

Google: The search engine's CEO admits limits on personal data are elusive
This article gives details of several cases whereby Google searchers were shocked to find unwanted and disquieting personal information about themselves on the Net.

Intellifit Launches Apparel Search Engine That 'Finds What Fits' at DEMO@15
Shopping for clothes that fit can be a frustrating and time consuming endeavour, which is why Intellifit Corporation, creators of the award-winning Intellifit System body scanner, today unveiled Find What Fits(TM) -- the first apparel search engine to help consumers find the brands and sizes that fit them best.

British company launches talking search engine
A British company has launched a technology preview of a search engine which can read out search results.

KNOWLEDGE BASE ARTICLES

Search Engine Changes Blur the Line Between Myth and Reality

Study Demonstrates Impact of Ranking on Search Engine Traffic