SEO, Beer and Gaming

A month ago or so, someone found that Google were working on a completely new site design. (Instructions how to enable it). I think it’s pretty neat myself, pretty clever too.

Since then, Google have introduced personalised search results for everyone, in an anonymous 180 day cookie. Which I think is fairly pointless in my opinion. If I use a site regularly enough, I’ll remember the URI, failing that I’ll have it bookmarked and it will reside in my more than extensive history. However, most people apparently just rely on Google for everything.

It was while being annoyed at the personalisation feature using the new design that I noticed that I might be affecting my own search results:

I wonder if you could optimise your site for the “Awesome People” demographic? Maybe they’re already doing doing it? According to Matt Cutts, Google has got 200 parameters in their algorithm that people are still trying to guess. What about all the things that they haven’t implimented or have commented out? They’re probably saving a few for April Fools Day.

First off, I have to say I was very impressed with Mark Daniels‘ use of the current news to talk about a dirty glasses, it had me in stitches for a fair while.  The other thing that raised a smile was Ann Summers making full use of the BA strike with a new PPC campaign (Pic thanks to @melCarson).

On the subject of the Internets beloved masters of Christmassy tunes, Rage Against the Machine played a live show (Audio clip unsurprisingly contains explicit lyrics) on the Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show. The band were told not to sing the expletives in the song, but when the following lyrics are “I won’t do what you tell me”, did the BBC expect RATM to play ball and do what they told them? While I don’t approve of the expletives on the radio that early, I do appreciate the fact that they’ve not sold out to censorship. As for the whole RATM vs Joe battle goes, I’m on RATM’s side as I prefer the music. Simon Cowell’s getting some money regardless of who wins, so he’s laughing all the way to the bank as usual. Either way, I think we can all be glad that that Cliff Richard’s days of Christmas number ones are over. If Mistletoe and Wine becomes next year’s campaign for Christmas number one I’ll cry rivers.

It was good enough to start the Internet on its way, so I figure it’s good enough for this blog.

Here is where I’ll plant my musings about my work doing in house SEO and web development. I’ve not been at it for very long, but the information I have picked up, dusted off, nursed back to health like a sick puppy and then used to my own ends has been simply astounding. I have read a lot of it mind. So before anyone starts trying to condescend me at all, I’m aware keyword density is a myth, Page Rank is pointless and keyword focused natural looking links from external sites is love.

I’m fairly into my computer games, so now doubt there’ll be a fair emount of posts on here about EVE Online, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Team Fortress 2 or whatever else I’m playing that I think is interesting and fun.

The other love of my life is beer. I’m lucky enough to live relatively close (alright, it’s a 40 minute bus journey) to the CAMRA pub of the year 2009, The Ship & Mitre in Liverpool. The mind boggling array of bottled and draught beers, the friendly staff and the festivals make it the best place to enjoy a drink with friends.

So like every dog and his grandpa, I’ll be blogging about boring low-life details too.

This blog is pretty basic at the minute and I’ll more than likely be hitting it with the SEO stick, the design stick, the speed stick and however many other sticks I need to beat it with to make it nice. The original plan here for example was to make this with the thesis theme, but that would make my bank manager cry. So in the meantime, you get to look at pianoblack.

I know the idea was to type login, but I wonder if the last thing sent over the Internet will just be the letter l?