Google search diffrent results?

[Idontbuy]

Hi
Can any body tell me why this happens?
We have two computers in the office both connected to the same router.

I do a search on our best keywords and log our position in a spreadsheet every week.
Now my computer shows that we are doing really well and hitting the first page on all but 2 of the 35 keywords that I search on.

The bosses computer which is sat 2 foot away from me shows total different results according to his results we are way down the rankings some not in the top 50.

But the searches where done on www.google.com (http://www.google.com/) not .co.uk and the preferences are the same the only difference is between the 2 computers is that I am using ie8 Colin’s ie7.

Any body know why?
THX in ADV
Pete

[fisicx]

Is one of you logged into google?

Are you absolultely sure every single preference is exactly the same? Are all your cookies exactly the same?

Is one of you left handed? (clutching at straws here).

[Idontbuy]

Lol left handed.

Yep all prefreneces are the same cleared the cookies internet history from the toolbar and from the control panel.

It really is bugging us!

Thanks
Pete

[fisicx]

Are you both logged out of google and have you uninstalled the toolbar. Try both using firefox?

Do you get the same results at home?

[Idontbuy]

No But i will do this weekend Thanks for the thoughts i will see how i get on .
Cheers
Pete

[Delicious Webdesign]

has one of you been customising their search with Google searchwiki?

[Idontbuy]

Search wikki not as i am aware but i have just done a search on Jigsort and it has brought up at the bottom of the search page

Add a result - See all my SearchWiki notes (http://www.google.com/reviews/w?c=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Djigsort&usg=__FV9FPGFw4gJR3DdyDFwkAfCoE04=&hl=en) - See all notes for this SearchWiki (http://www.google.com/search?q=jigsort&hl=en&swm=2) - Learn more (http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=115764)

Which is quite intresting, i wonder if that is bulit into IE8 as standard?

Thankyou
Pete

[SEO-Doctor]

Sure you haven't promoted your own site in the preferences (igoogle) and forgot about it! :p I did that once when this self promotion came out...could not belive I was at #1 !!

[ForexPro]

The reason you receive different results most likely is because of Google changing your results. Google might be testing there new algorithm which uses users past browsing history along with other data to bring back results which they believe will be most relevant to you.

This is just something they are supposed to be testing in 2009 and somewhere down the line they will be implementing it however I am not sure how it will work myself because that will mean rankings will be dead and SEO will take a rather big step in changing its methods to meet Google's specifications.

You can read more about Google Universal search here
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/pressrel/universalsearch_20070516.html

[fisicx]

The reason you receive different results most likely is because of Google changing your results. Google might be testing there new algorithm which uses users past browsing history along with other data to bring back results which they believe will be most relevant to you.

If you read the OP you will see that it's two computers on the same network delivering different results. This can't possibly be the result of Google doing some testing - how would it know which PC to sent the reasults to?

[ForexPro]

If you read the OP you will see that it's two computers on the same network delivering different results. This can't possibly be the result of Google doing some testing - how would it know which PC to sent the reasults to?

Why not? Both computers will have different browsing history, thats what Google is planning on using to fetch the new results so it could be that. It doesn't look like anyone else has a better answer.

[The Dreaded Lurgy]

OOh Test it, delete the browsing history form both computers and then look again.

[ForexPro]

OOh Test it, delete the browsing history form both computers and then look again.

I don't think its as simple as that, I am no expert but going of what I have read and what I have begun to see in the search engines it seems Google will track what you have browsed in the past and perhaps store it themselves. They would need to do something so that you couldn't just delete your browsing history and then start again at square one.

Its all about personalised search results and thats what Google is trying to achieve.

[The Dreaded Lurgy]

Wow soon they will know about my extra toe and then every time I do a search all I will ever get is sites for large shoes.

Isnt there a possibility that by using all these amazing methods of making things so absolutely relevant for the user that the results of a search just end up a bhit blinkered and stale.

The internet is quite cool for finding new and interesting stuff that is not all that relevant to your day to day tedium, I hope it stays that way.

[ForexPro]

Wow soon they will know about my extra toe and then every time I do a search all I will ever get is sites for large shoes.

Isnt there a possibility that by using all these amazing methods of making things so absolutely relevant for the user that the results of a search just end up a bhit blinkered and stale.

The internet is quite cool for finding new and interesting stuff that is not all that relevant to your day to day tedium, I hope it stays that way.

Good point to make, I guess there is a risk that Google runs that by personalising searches more that they will take away what I suppose the hidden potential that the Internet has in giving users suprises and new information that they would perhaps not of found any other way.

"Intent-based Search

Google has been looking up your IP and revising results based on IP. They know where you're located and can make assumptions about the intent of your search. As you get more into intent-based search, it's going to change the way pages rank, Bruce explains. "The page that ranks for a shopping query is an entirely different architecture than the page that ranks for a research query."

Just a little bit of information that may help you understand what they are trying to do.

[ForexPro]

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/11/18/what-googles-matt-cutts-sees-in-2009

There you go Cutts himself says it.

[Kneoteric_eSolutions]

@ForexPro Intent based (personalised) search may be at play here. Personalised search uses or claims to use implicit user behavior signals to present customised search results.

But if I get it right, both of them are using the same internet connection which should effectively mean that they have the same IP. I am under the impression that search engines would store (if it did) user behavior based on IP. And since they both have the same IP they should not be getting different results.

Also after clearing the cache, browsing history and getting rid of google's spy toolbar should revert the search results back to standard. Correct me if I am wrong.

I am still wondering of other factors that could be at play. Probably checking it via a proxy website should give the correct results.

[ForexPro]

@ForexPro Intent based (personalised) search may be at play here. Personalised search uses or claims to use implicit user behavior signals to present customised search results.

But if I get it right, both of them are using the same internet connection which should effectively mean that they have the same IP. I am under the impression that search engines would store (if it did) user behavior based on IP. And since they both have the same IP they should not be getting different results.

Also after clearing the cache, browsing history and getting rid of google's spy toolbar should revert the search results back to standard. Correct me if I am wrong.

I am still wondering of other factors that could be at play. Probably checking it via a proxy website should give the correct results.

Good point, ok so if after all of this then it is probably just the simple case that they are picking up different datacenters, not sure why they would but they may.

[Kneoteric_eSolutions]

Good point, ok so if after all of this then it is probably just the simple case that they are picking up different datacenters, not sure why they would but they may.

A possibility but I am not sure why it would pick different data centers for the same connection, either.

[SEO-Doctor]

This is very strange. Could be a nightmare for SEO if this was common - your client may not see your hard work!

[Rags]

Interesting discussion this - how to do SEO in the future of one of the main factors is the browsing history of the computer in question?

Even a proxy connection will have its own history...

[Ali-v-8]

Solutions as follows.

1) press CRTL and F5 this will clear history from that page.
2) check preference. see if one has been set to more than 10 results to page.
3) as mentioned earlier if you are using Google mail or logged in for any other reason your search will come from the nearest server.
4) you also need to see if you have used igoogle (again results differ)
5) and yes different browsers do give different result (regardless of what has been said)
i think i covered all the possible.

[Ali-v-8]

6) .co.uk and .com also show different results

[fisicx]

5) and yes different browsers do give different result (regardless of what has been said)

Do you mean IE and FF will give different results or (as I suspect) two computers on the same network?

We've had a bit of an experiment and so far (without changing any of the settings), 11 computers on the same network have all provided the same results.

[Ali-v-8]

Do you mean IE and FF will give different results or (as I suspect) two computers on the same network?

We've had a bit of an experiment and so far (without changing any of the settings), 11 computers on the same network have all provided the same results.

No.
He said he was using ie7 on one and ie8 on the other.
Chrome firefox and safari give differing results to i.e.
Also if he has AVG installed that again alters results.
Having adult filters change results.

main result change that i know is being signed into google.

[top-click]

Hi,

My 2p worth;

Google is clever, we all know that, so clever in fact that if you continually search for a keyword over and over again without clicking on it - Google assumes it's not relavant to you and drops it down the resulst and will eventually stop showing it.

To over come this issue - for agencies and clients, they developed the adwords ad preview tool. This shows the *absolute* position of ads as theyt are seen by others.

Hope this helps

Rob

https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/AdTargetingPreviewTool

[fisicx]

Chrome firefox and safari give differing results to i.e.

Really? I've just done a search for 'liberation' using FF, Opera, IE6 and IE7 and got the same results down to position 100.

Agree however that any configuration differences can affect your results.

[top-click]

and what I mean by it is that you may find there's a big difference in how many times you and your boss search for a particular keyword - this will mean the ads showing in diff positions!

R

[fisicx]

Google is clever, we all know that, so clever in fact that if you continually search for a keyword over and over again without clicking on it - Google assumes it's not relavant to you and drops it down the resulst and will eventually stop showing it.

Do you mean PPC ads or organic listings?

The former I can't comment on but it's hard to see how they could track my clicks in the organic results unless I allow google to track my clicks.

<edit>You've answered my question - but the OP was discussing organic ranking not PPC</edit>

[top-click]

I was talking PPC - have I missed the point, must pay more attention!

*dunces hat on*

[UKSBD]

There are loads of different reasons why this happens, even searching
in upper or lower case can make a difference.

Most probable reason if the results are a lot different could be that you
have different safe search oprtions set up.

[Idontbuy]

HI Thanks for all the replies
I got the boss to look over the tread and his decison was to go with his computer, results as he has IE7 running and his thoughts are that the majorty of users are useing IE7 rather than IE8 so his must be right. :)

I think it must be some setiing in 8 thats is different.
I have used cleverstat (http://www.cleverstat.com/en/) as well and that is different again.
Not to worry
Cheers
Pete

[fisicx]

I have used cleverstat (http://www.cleverstat.com/en/) as well and that is different again.

Probably because it's an automated rank checking tool that breaks Google TOS. Which means Google could well be feeding it false information.

Very interesed in the different results from IE7/8 - this needs more investigation methinks.

[Tin]

From my experience, whilst running the training courses, Google will often sus that my search behaviour is not natural and will block my searches.

It also makes perfect sense that Google, being the data gatherer that it is, monitors everything about a searcher, ie. the IP address that comes to it's engine, the search string, the organic and sponsered ads thrown on the page, the resultant click by the IP address, the time the user stays on the resolving url and the resulting user behaviour, ie. is the user satisfied and stays on the url or does the user hit the back button and return to Google. If it does, what next does the user click on.

Only by tracking such activity can Google determine how useful it's organic and PPC listings are given the search criteria.

Ray