Blekko Search Engine To Slash Google

Blekko, a new Internet search engine has been launched to challenge Google as the next best thing to change how we look for things on the web.

What Blekko is made to do is filter out poor quality and irrelevant websites which its founders claim have overrun the web and dominate search engine results.

The Blekko search engine is going to rely on people's recommendations, weed out "content farm" websites, porn, and spam, and then pre-select the most useful sites on key topics and then LIMIT searches to those alone.

One other feature Blekko has that Google hasn't is the use of slash tags to provide more accurate search results. For example, if a user searches ‘global warming / green’ it would bring up only environmental websites to do with green groups or issues. Similarly a search for ‘Paris Hilton /noporn’ would avoid any pornographic websites associated with the Hilton heiress.

Slashtags can be combined for more accuracy so a search like ‘global warming / date / technology’ which would bring up web pages about global warming and technology companies ranked by date.

In addition, all users will be able to create their own list of slashtags which they can make public and share with others via Facebook and Twitter, passing on the benefit of their own individual tastes or searching techniques.

But will you, the user, recommend Blekko? Check out the video on Blekko below and do tell us what you think:

Google Changes Search Algorithms Once More With Place Search

Google has once again changed it search algorithms and the blogging world must adapt once again.

It shouldn't be that big of a problem for those who have been in the industry long enough, but according to Ewan Watt, managing director of Melbourge search engine optimisation company ROI, "small guys have been snuffed out."

So, what is the new Google Place Search?

Google product manager Jackie Bavaro announced Place Search on Wednesday, describing it as a new kind of local search result that organizes information around places, clustering search results around locations that enable users to more easily make comparisons.

The new Google Place Search produces a local map on the screen, and a list of several entries with red flags, referring to the map.

"Place Search results will begin appearing automatically on Google when we predict you're looking for local information. In addition, you'll find a new link for 'Places' in the left-hand panel of the search results page so you can switch to these results whenever you want."

What happens if your blog isn't optimized for the new Google Place Search?

A blog that previously came up fourth on a list in response to a Google search, might now have 10 map-based entries above it, relegating it to 14th position on the list, pushing it below what search engine experts call "the fold", the bottom of the computer screen.

What to do in order to optimize your online presence?

Make sure you have a page on you website containing a physical address, phone numbers and other items such as reviews.

What do you think of this new development on Google Search?