Google's Personalized Search Results

Webmaster Discussion
#1

Today I was doing some queries and thought “damn, Jasun’s doing really well with Gay Daily Hot - he’s #3 for ‘gay porn blog’”, then I realized my error - I had typed my search query into the wrong box and had gotten personalized search results.

Google is getting more aggressive with personalizing search results and is putting sites they think you like higher up in the results and thereby skewing the results. See the two examples below - the one with Gay Daily Hot in #3 is the personalized result.

If you’re trying to look at who’s ranking for what you must turn off personalized search. The best way to do this is to use Joost de Valk’s search plugin - works with Firefox and IE7. Once you install it you must remember to use the search box in the browser - not the one on the Google page as I did this morning…

personalized-search-results.jpg

not-personalized.jpg

#2

Re: Google’s Personalized Search Results

I’ve had similiar issues, so I’ve started to use 2 browsers at the same time. Internet Explorer is always signed into my Google account and use it for analytics, webmaster central etc.

At the same time I also use Chrome which I never sign in with to any site and don’t have personalized search on either.

It’s a real pain because it seems to me that “personalized” actually means worse results and stuff you already seen before.

I mean why would I want to find something I already seen? If I want to see a old page I use my bookmarks.

#3

Re: Google’s Personalized Search Results

I do the same thing. I do this for multiple Gmail accounts too :wink:

I don’t think Googles personalized search results is very effective.

#4

Re: Google’s Personalized Search Results

If you search with Joost’s search plugin you can just use one browser! :slight_smile: I’ve been using it for years - works great…