With the majority of the rich world now having upgraded to IE7, did Google notice the way Microsoft have stolen search share? Did WE notice? Search engine optimisation international specialists are buzzing. In IE7 there is now an embedded web search facility in the toolbar at the ‘top right’ of the browser. Whilst Google can be selected as the search provider, did we think Microsoft would give up the search currency so easily? Not the same people that knocked Netscape into a cocked hat and into the sidelines of connected world control. But with world on constant alert of the software giant’s malpractice, it can’t be too high in profile. They chose a perfect way to unethically get people to stray from Google.
How they did it
How? By not allowing the selection of a ‘regional’ Google as the search provider. Let’s take the case of a searcher in Canada. When searchers use Google.com for their searches they get a set of results. If they travelled across the border to the US, using Google.com for the same search would yield a different set of results again (some similarities, but different). Now back in Canada the user searches using Google.ca and gets different results again – this time the best optimised set of results. He’s in Canada and Google.ca is built for Canada and delivers the best results (Google.com gives results somewhere between the two because of the overwhelming recognition of .com as a first stop for many domains). The fact that for USA searchers it makes no difference at all gives Microsoft a leading time for regional users to become dissatisfied with the search leader Google before it’s flagged up as a ‘bug’. It’s a perfect mechanism to accomplish their plan of shifting some of that persisting favour Google has amongst web users.
Why don’t they just switch to local Google?
You can try it. Selecting different search providers takes you to Microsoft’s web site from where you get a choice of providers. If you need a regional Google, you have to jump through hoops which the vast majority will not do. But even if they do, the selection doesn’t persist across browser sessions. Microsoft have to allow users to select a different search provider, who knows – someone may even want to use MSN. But the selection is only available from the broad companies – MSN, Yahoo, Google, Ask, etc. These other main search engines (Yahoo, MSN and Ask) have redirects in place that provide local results just as if they were using yahoo.co.uk, yahoo.ca, etc. Google is on their own in the way they provide regional results. Perfect then. Microsoft put up with Yahoo, but bitterly hate the Google that some of their best people are defecting to. The IE7 browser upgrade doesn’t permit people to easily select Google.ca (or other region) as their search provider – and even successfully jumping through the hoops they provide doesn’t allow the selection to persist. Users aren’t going to bother – over time they’ll notice the sub-optimal results but not work out why, they won’t see this search turf issue. They’ll go elsewhere – right into the arms of the next two - Yahoo and MSN.
The solution
Who know the best way for Google to beat this? But first they need to recognise it – we doubt they even know. Effecting a solution could start the first search world war. Consider the most blood curdling solution - Google developing their own browser. Could Microsoft ‘netscape’ it? Google have nearly as much money as Microsoft and so could fight them legally equally – but what would the famous Microsoft fighting with ‘time’ produce (as with Netscape)? Other solutions? Google could skew results locally when searching through this toolbar facility, so that effectively users would be seeing the same results as the google.co.uk or google.ca they should be using. Google could show nothing, no results at all for searches originating through this IE7 toolbar. Google could do what the other engines have done - show the same results for regional uses of .com as those searched for using google.co.uk (etc.), or redirect IP ranges to their regional engine.
Microsoft have skewed the results for searches outside the USA. It may seem minor, but companies in other countries don’t show up when searched for through the Microsoft utility – a solution is needed – wake up Google – work on this one.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I see endenote 9 toolbar in word 2007, but it ...
By: Ana Mirco | 08-09-2008
I see endenote 9 toolbar in word 2007, but it doens´t work. How can I fix it?
How to print google satellite map image--I hit ...
By: wtuth | 08-09-2008
how to print google satellite map image--I hit print, but it only prints the street map
What was the first stock of google sold for? and ...
By: Jennifer | 07-09-2008
what was the first stock of google sold for? and when?
Get Rid of Search Box
By: Betty | 06-09-2008
Every time I sign on to AOL I get a Search Block in the upper right corner - how do I get rid of it? It's very annoying!
Thanks
Aol check up
By: Mike | 06-09-2008
how to access AOL check up from home page
Does all in one submission is dangerous?
By: ilana | 05-09-2008
I have a medium size site, and It's current google page rank is 4/10. In order to improve its Rank, I'm considering using a mass links submission tool like "All-in-One submission", that will submit a link to my site to few thousands site's. some of them are more legit, like DMOZ, and some of them, I guess, are link farms.
does such a submission is dangerous? can google punish me for doing that?
and if the answer is yes, do you have an advise how to submit my site?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Online Promotion Articles
How To Generate Traffic From Article Marketing
By: Sameep Shah | 11/10/2008
Marketing is a large part of any entrepreneur's existence. Whether you want to drive your company's sales of a certain product or simply drive traffic to your website, marketing is the way you will get the results you want and need. Article marketing is just one marketing method that is popular amongst website owners and managers.
Some Of The Most Amazing Advantages Of PPC Marketing!
By: Kristi Ambrose | 10/10/2008
What people don't understand is that the PPC market can bring them more success than failure if they simply know how to execute an ad campaign the right way. And yes there are right and wrong ways. Maybe you have failed at because you did it the wrong way! Read on! There are many benefits that pay per click marketing offers that other processes of net marketing can't even begin to compete with.
Best Advertising Methods on the Internet
By: Tara Martindale | 09/10/2008
There are various advertising methods one can use to promote their business website on the internet, but it can also be tough to get your site in front of all the other sites offering similar products or services. Using the internet can get your product out to millions of people but without proper marketing there is no sense.
Banner-based Conversations
By: Jim Russell | 09/10/2008
Consider the banner. It's old. About fourteen years old - here's a link to the purported first banner ever. And thought to be rather un-sexy. When's the last time you went to a conference and saw a breakout sessioncalled 'The Art of the Banner'? It's mostly yada yada yada about search engine marketing / blog seeding / out-of-home / mobile integration / (insert buzzword here).
Article Submission Software - Do They Work?
By: Dominic Tay | 09/10/2008
As article marketers, we are always looking for ways to submit our articles faster, easier and to more article sites. The trouble is that we are trained to look at article submission software as the solution. But do they really work? Let's find out...
Hiring a Consultant for Internet Marketing
By: virgilio vallecera | 09/10/2008
The key to hiring a consultant to assist in an Internet marketing campaign is to hire the right consultant. You will find there are many different options available to you as Internet marketing has become a huge industry. However, not all consultants are created equal.
Top Two Reasons to Hire a Virtual Assistant
By: Uche Okoroha | 08/10/2008
Want to know the secret to online marketing success? As time goes by more and more entrepreneurs and online marketers are turning to the services of a virtual assistant to outsource all of their administrative and marketing tasks. Learn about the top two reasons to hire a virtual assistant.
Custom Business Card Design Ideas
By: Robert Johnston | 08/10/2008
When it comes to custom business cards, the easiest way to customize them is to use the back as well as the front.
More from Baron Turner
How Smart Web Designers Screw Up your SEO
By: Baron Turner | 15/05/2007 | SEO
Talented web designers do a great job creating great web sites but all too often in the process unknowingly wreck the likelihood of high rankings in search engines. Here’s how and what to do about it.
Turnaround Finance - Solution by Vultures or Angels?
By: Baron Turner | 15/05/2007 | Finance
Turnaround finance involves troubled companies resorting to a third party equity provider to input equity. The intention is to resolve problems in return for a stake in the company. Is private equity given by vultures or angels? Banks, often seen as the vulture tend to err on the side of insolvency in order to get back their initial investment, though this attitude has improved somewhat over the last half decade. Angels want something out of the deal, but still exist by looking for carnage.
The Web Landlords – is it Worth the Rent?
By: Baron Turner | 15/05/2007 | SEO
As businesses flock to the web, the concept of anyone being able to set up shop is declining more and more as business people find that the web is even more expensive than bricks and mortar in the High Street. Small companies that aren’t efficient and don’t offer worthwhile services are getting squeezed out by the same people that squeeze out the smaller bricks and mortar businesses in the brick and mortar High Street. Here’s how, and here’s a glimpse into the future of the online presence.
Chess Computers: the Novag Carnelian II
By: Baron Turner | 15/05/2007 | Art and Entertainment
Review of the Novag Carnelian II Chess Computer and it’s features. The younger sibling of the Citrine is an outstanding performer and eager to take on Kasparov. We look at it strengths and weaknesses and the merits of it’s modest price tag.
Ineffective Dmoz
By: Baron Turner | 15/05/2007 | SEO
The weight Google gives DMOZ is highly dubious. Objectively the project is at a standstill. Webmasters who try getting sites listed in the directory find it almost impossible. Attempts to expedite make it worse, attempts to obtain status make it worse, many years can elapse before any inclusion is experienced, if at all. Corruption is widely cited. Time for a call to action!
Advertising 
About the Author:
