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Ever find something that makes you laugh? Something so contradictory, that it is downright hysterical? Happened to me tonight when I did a quick Google search for a particular term. Take a look at what Google did to me in the search engine result pages. Maybe someone (hint:Matt Cutts) can explain to me what is going on here with PotPieGirl.
A Google Search For PotPieGirl
I did a random “see what’s going on” search for PotPieGirl tonight.
And then saw this:
That’s good, right? I think so….
And then, I saw THIS:
PotPieGirl Has Google Site Links!
Now that is just plain awesome…. thanks, Google!
SiteLinks are automatically generated by Google and from the best of my recollection, they are given to sites that perhaps are recognized as a ‘brand’ that is consistently searched for. In theory, this is designed to make it easier for searchers to find the info they are looking for on a site.
No one is quite clear as to what factors go into a site getting sitelinks. Could be traffic, could be backlinks, could be a lot of things. I’ve also read that perhaps age of the domain comes into play (which I would have disagree with being this domain name isn’t even a year old yet).
I read a good post about Google sitelinks in which the author came to these opinions as to how a site gets SiteLinks:
The sitelink option in the Google results are similar with the siteinfo.xml provided for the Alexa toolbar, a simple option for a webmaster to provide most important direct links to his website structure. Google version of Siteinfo is different because you cannot specify WHICH link in your website is a Sitelink. You can only ask remove one link from the Sitelinks (Google Webmaster panel option).
Why are the Sitelinks appearing, when and under which algorithm? The algorithm used is totally automated and is taking in consideration the following criteria’s:
- Old powerful website.
- The sitelinks are pages which are coming on first position in SERPs.
- The sitelinks are most of the time associated with top results related words: “domain”, “domain download”, “domain demo” etc.
- The sitelinks are probably not influenced by PageRank.
Hmmmmm….. Interesting.
As I mentioned a moment ago, I am not an “old powerful website” – so, let’s check that one off in relation to PotPieGirl.com.
These pages on my site that were chosen to be SiteLinks are coming in first position in the Google SERPs (search engine result pages)?
Well let’s check that. A Google search for “1st 3 Days” doesn’t show me at #1, tho I am on the first page. I am #1 for “Dear Mr Squidoo Cash Machine“. As for “Meet PotPieGirl“, ironically, that actual post is ranked #2 in the SERPs.
A search for “how I make WordPress niche sites” has THIS blog of mine at #6 (but it is not the post that is listed as a SiteLink). A Search for “my stance on no follow” has my post at #2. And finally, a search for “January 2008 payout info” has my post at #2.
So, not thinking THAT theory holds true in relation to this blog.
As for the sitelinks being directly related to the domain… uhhh, not so much. Lastly, the SiteLinks are not influenced by Page Rank. Ok, I can’t do anything with that theory. This blog is currently a PR3 on the toolbar.
The only thing that has changed recently with my blog is that my Alexa rank has gotten inside the top 100,000 in over-all blog ranking (which I think is kinda cool…lol). Otherwise, it’s been business as usual. Well, not completely. I am actually posting a little less than usual as I work on OneWeekMarketing.com.
So, I don’t know exactly why my site was given SiteLinks by Google today. My theory was that Google recognizes me as a brand. If you do a Google search for “Coke” or “Amazon”, etc, you see SiteLinks like these too (aren’t I special…LMAO!).
BUT…..
Here’s The Punchline
If Google sees PotPieGirl as a brand and recognizes it as a commonly searched phrase… If Google recognizes PotPieGirl in all these other ways, then why.. WHY… do I also see THIS when I Google search ‘potpiegirl’?
ACK!
HOW is it that Google recognizes PotPieGirl enough to give it SiteLinks, BUT, it STILL thinks it is a TYPO??? And of ALL typos, THAT typo. Heck, I’m not even going to type those two words on my blog so I don’t even RISK ranking for that nasty term. Go ahead, laugh… it is kinda funny. But here is an advanced warning, if you type those two words into a comment, I will edit it. I don’t want to give Google ANY help with me being associated with that term =)
So, can ANYONE tell me how I can have sitelinks AND be a typo all at the same time?
Anyone?
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Hey, it’s a nice gift! It’s good to see your site has sitelink. none of my webs have that, maybe because it’s just a year old.. I don’t really expect sitelink, but I expect my blogs to have much traffics 🙂
cowys last blog post..Free Graduation Powerpoint Templates
That made me laugh so hard!! Why of all words would Google think that someone meant to spell “***** girl”. Are they trying to deliver p*rn now?
Edited By PotPieGirl : Sorry! But as I said in my post, I do not want to risk ranking for those terms. Thanks!
I am totally impressed! I did not know Google would do that when you become a “household name”. That is soooo cool! Another new goal for me! To have my “name in lights” like potpie girl!
lol on the potty reference.
Hey P****Girl,
ROFLOL
That is the funniest thing ever.
You should see what Google is really doing with their new social features they are rolling out at a very fast pace.
It is even bigger and deeper than I expected. What I found today alone is going to be fodder enough for a new book and I am starting that this week end. Wickedly Evil Google Marketing Tactics.
Have a good weekend and try not to come with any other nicknames for your self.
Chris Lang
Congrats!
.This is a major accomplishment. You definitely deserve it with all of the information you share on this blog with your fans:)
Keep it going.
Sunshine
Congratulations! It’s great to see someone getting ahead the old fashioned way.
Google always suggests a different spelling for my website also and it had me worried about pagerank. But now I can see that it doesn’t make a bit of difference in the long run.
Hi Jennifer,
OMG! We do not want Our PotPieGirl to be associated with that other P-girl. I just Googled her and the results were not pretty. What’s really weird is there’s been nothing from her in over a year. It looks like your brand is much more developed than hers and she appears to have gone away. Thanks for helping noobs like me better understand the mystery of Google.Well,until now Lol! P.S. you seem to have missed Chris’s greeting earlier.
Kudos for the sitelinks, well done!
Could it be that those pages are coming top of the SERPs for particular terms/phrases? …probably searches related to Squidoo and seo/marketing (that’s how I originally found you)
Cheers, Jon
Jons last blog post..Your Salon Website – Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) basics
Hi! One thing that you might want to do – if you don’t like some of these Sitelinks – is to use Webmaster Tools to block them (see http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=47334 ). As for the suggestion, these are generated algorithmically, so at the moment there’s no way to influence them.
Cheers, John
*snicker* New Nickname? 😉
Interesting though…
Arics last blog post..Hitting the bricks for some links for you!
Hey,
That’s nice news for you. It’s a great feeling to find your links inside Google, isn’t it?
It’s great to get sitelinks. I got some for one of my vacation rental sites – it’s always worth checking to make sure they are relevant to your site. You’re right though – Google does come up with some BIZARRE alternative suggestions for your search term.
that is funny but wow how cool are those site links?You have got it going on Jen,you are gettin this whole thing dialed in like a maestro.Hats off to you in a big big way
Thanks for the great reading on SEO. I work with it all day and I find it very interesting to read what others have to say about it!
Amanda