Today is the official six-year anniversary of the Search Engine Roundtable. To date, we have written over 10,700 (10,740 to be exact) articles here, and over 1,841 in the past year. But it is not about the quantity of posts, I feel we have always produced unique and useful content, day in and day out here for the past six years. If we couldn't provide unique and helpful content, I doubt I would be keeping this up. And like I always say, the content comes from the community (i.e. the forums), which has always determined what we write about and what I feel is important to highlight to a wider audience.
This article, being my 7,958th article since starting this site (1,754 over past year) will highlight some of what I feel are the most important changes over the course of the year in our industry. If you want to see the same type of post for the 2008 year, see my five year anniversary write up from last year.
I would like to thank all our contributing authors, the volunteer live conference bloggers, our sponsors, the search engines, and of course - you guys - the community. Finally, I would like to thank my wife for putting up with my addiction to search, especially after having our first child.
A quick reminder, if you have not yet subscribed to us via RSS or email, please consider doing so. Also, please consider subscribing to our weekly video recaps and on Twitter at both @seroundtable and @rustybrick.
Enough of that, let's get into the meat of the past year:On the business front, it has been a pretty wild year. The Yahoo struggles continued over from 2008 to 2009 with Carol Bartz taking over for Yang and Decker. After Bartz killed Yahoo search, she had to be taught that Yahoo was a search company. Yahoo killed many properties this year, including the legendary Geocities. Google also started off the year cutting jobs, but they proved that Google was not all that impacted by this great recession. Jim Safka left Ask.com for personal reasons just a year after replacing Jim Lanzone. Soon later, Ask Japan shut down and Barry Diller began wanting to sell off Ask.com. We end this year with News Corp & Microsoft playing hardball with Google over buying their content. Oh, and let's not forget all the Twitter partnerships this year - a great year for Twitter.
Sometimes search business news and covering minor algorithmic updates bores me a bit. I have been doing this for a long time, so to spice things up, I try to bring in some funny, controversial and inappropriate search related topics into the mix. Possibly the largest controversial story we broke (but didn't get credit for breaking) was a few stories on Michelle Obama. Basically, someone managed to rank a racist image for Michelle Obama in the top image search result. Google then removed the result, which drove some controversy over the unbiased nature of the algorithm. In short, the image returned with an ad from Google explaining why, which is where the story broke into the news. Anyway, the image is now gone again and things have died down on that topic. Michelle Obama's husband also had Google racism to deal with, with a racist iGoogle theme. Then came the Google bomb for Obama with who is the failure query. We also questioned Google's political bias over the course of the elections.
Michael Jackson was big news, when he died suddenly. His fans were upset that he ranked for a query on the "ugliest person in the world." Speaking of Hollywood types of stars, we also discussed how Perez Hilton ranked in Bing, he personally wasn't happy about it. And some popular Indian actress named Rambha, had porn videos of her in Google search results.
Speaking of porn, we had lots of upsetting adult content creep into Google this year. Some of it included a Holocaust video targeted by pornographers in Google. Google's iGoogle gadgets has tons of porn on them as well. The most comical was that parent caught their son Googling for porn and a mother found out her daughter was a porn star using Google history.
Google penalized themselves for buying PageRank, yes - they did. ShoeMoney sued a Google employee and kind of won. Someone else sued Google and first won and then lost. Google was blamed for the web's malware. Google was embarrassed into fixing a Google Groups search bug. There were rumors that a former Googler was spamming. Fake news made its way into Google, including a four letter word.
Other Misc Controversial Topics:
Google Removes Green Party Web Site From Index Due To HackBing Hijacks IE6 Toolbar Search, Google Users UpsetAsk.com Crosses The Line: Frames Search ResultsWoman Loses Unemployment Checks Due To $1 Per Day Google AdSense IncomeGoogle, Heads Up, Ireland Is Not New ZealandGoogle AdWords Advertisers Threatens Suicide To Get Google's Attention, It WorkedSEO Company Caught By Client Using Google Support ForumsGet Out Of Google Jail For $50, Web Site Captures Mug Shots
You know what, this will take me days to write everything. I have grouped all the stories I wrote over the year in sections and linked to them below. I hope this is helpful on some level, if not, just skip it - hopefully you read them in the past.
Scam: Google Money System or Google KitGoogle Scams So Serious, Google Blog Writes About ThemGoogle Money Scams Take To Phone?Funny SEM Thread: Google's Fault I Got ScammedBeware: Google AdSense "Account Disabled" Phishing ScamFake Yahoo Employees Trying to Pick Up SEM Clients in Forums?
Microsoft Bing November 2009 Search Update?November 2009 Google Webmaster ReportYet Another Bing October 2009 Update?Maybe a Minor Google Search Update (October 2009)?Bing October 2009 Search Index UpdateOctober 2009 Google Webmaster ReportGoogle September 2009 Image Search Update Turns Out Bad?September 2009 Google Webmaster ReportYahoo Search September 2009 Update OfficialYahoo Search August 2009 UpdatePossible Google Update - August 2009Bing Search August 2009 UpdateAugust 2009 Google Webmaster ReportBing July 2009 UpdateSmall Google July 2009 Update?July 2009 Google Webmaster ReportGoogle UK Search Shake Up - June 2009June 2009 Google Webmaster ReportYahoo Search June 2009 Update?Small Google May 2009 Update?May 2009 Google Webmaster ReportApril 2009 Google Webmaster ReportYahoo Search Update: March 2009Google Releases Major Blog Search Blogroll Algorithm UpdateGoogle Confirms Algorithm "Change" But Down Plays Brand PushGoogle Search March 2009 Webmaster Report UpdateYahoo Search Update: February 2009February '09 Google Image Search Update?Google Search February 2009 Webmaster Report UpdateGoogle Images January 2009 UpdateYahoo Search & Ask.com January 2009 Search Updates?Major Google Search Results Changes, January 2009Live Search December 2008 Holiday Update?
Google PageRank Updates:
Google October 2009 Toolbar PageRank UpdateJune 2009 Google PageRank Update: Kind Of EarlyGoogle May 2009 Toolbar PageRank UpdateApril Fools Google PageRank UpdateGoogle March 2009 PageRank Update or Glitch?Google Toolbar PageRank Drops Over January '09 WeekendGoogle Confirms PageRank Update (New Years 2009)
Google UI & Features:
Google Jazz User Interface Out In The WildGoogle Asks For Feedback On 'Fade In' Home PageGoogle Pushes Fading Home Page Test To More, Adds InstructionsGoogle's Home Page Instructs: "This Space Intentionally Left Blank"Google Makes Search Bigger With Larger Search BoxGoogle Wonder Wheel & Search Options Go LivePoll: Do You Like Google's 2009 Fav (Browser) Icon?Google Pushing AdWords Search Ads Closer To Free ListingsWill You Use Google's New "Rich Snippets" Markups?Google Fesses Up To AJAX Search Results TestGoogle Tests Pagelinks, Reviews in SERPs, and Enhances Spelling CorrectionGoogle Squared Is Live: What SEOs & Searchers Need To KnowGoogle Launches New Search Suggestions & Drops CountsGoogle Social Search Now LiveGoogle URL Search Results Snippets Showing Breadcrumb NavigationGoogle Testing Related Searches Tab on Top Navigation Bar?Google Finally Tries Page PreviewsGoogle Now Indenting Two Results In Search ResultsGoogle's "Show More Results" Plus BoxGoogle Names My "Deep Sitelinks" as "Forum Sitelinks"Google Tries Same Page Anchor SitelinksGoogle Sometimes Truncating URLs to One LineSee Google "Classic" Sitelinks In Action (One Line Sitelinks)SEOs Discuss Impact of Google's "Preferred Sites" Search PreferenceGoogle Removes File Size From Search Results PageSearchers Want "Pages From [Country]," Google Might Drop ItImages Under Google Search SnippetsGoogle Replaces Comments Bubble with "Review This Site" LinkGoogle Adds More Search Options & Cleans Up VerticalsGoogle's Sitelinks Within Search Result SnippetsGoogle's New Settings Drop DownGoogle Showing Longer Descriptions For Longer QueriesGoogle Sidewiki - Comment About Any Site on That SiteI See Music on Google Search Now, FinallyGoogle News Get Update & Blog Search Gets ImprovedGoogle Aggressively Testing Favicons In AdWords AdsGoogle Testing Site Fav Icons in Search Results?Google Finally Creates a Dashboard to Manage Your Google LifeGoogle Let's You "Lock" Safe Search, Well Kind OfWhy Don't I See 'Find Similar Images' in Google Yet?Tasty: Google Image SwirlMany, Many Google Users Get "We're Sorry" Page
Yahoo UI & Features:
Yahoo Launches New Search Interface & Brand CampaignYahoo Tries Something Old, Launches New Home PageYahoo Search Ads Also Testing FaviconsYahoo Adds Tweets In New Developing News BoxYahoo Launching SearchPad Today
Bing UI & Features:
Microsoft Takes New Search Engine, Bing, Live EarlyMSN Home Page Gets a Major Face LiftBing Adds My Favorite Fact Engine, Wolfram|AlphaGoogle Removes PageRank Data From Webmaster Tools3 Days Later, Bing Finally Fixes Webmaster Tools BugBing Adds Visual Search & More Links On Home PageVideo Demo of Bing's New Visual SearchBing Adds Tweets Answers But How Real Time Is It?Bing adCenter To Try Favicons in Search Ads
Google Caffeine Index Goes Live Right Before Holiday Shopping SeasonGoogle Releases First Public Search Update Preview: "Caffeine" UpdateGoogle Updates Keyword Tool in Webmaster Tools: Updates Daily & Shows More DetailGoogle Finally Adds Domain Change Tool & Launches New Webmaster Tools DesignGoogle Webmaster Tools Tests New DesignGoogle Webmaster Tools Showing Sub-SitelinksGoogle Labs For Webmaster Tools Launches: Fetch as Googlebot & Malware DetailsWebmasters Skeptical But Loving New Canonical Search Engine TagGoogle Soon To Allow Cross Domain Canonical Tag: This Is BigGoogle Updates Webmaster Tools Verification Process: Google Sites Verification BreaksGoogle Adds Parameter Handling To Webmaster Tools, Plays Catchup to Yahoo Site ExplorerPublishers: Google News To Require A New Sitemaps FileGoogle News Now Recrawling & Reindexing Stories For UpdatesGoogle Adds Rich Snippet Testing ToolGoogle Webmaster Tools Now Reporting SSL Certificate ErrorsBlock Google Sidewiki Users From Commenting On Your SiteGoogle Wants To Index AJAX #!StreamRotator Blamed For Google Penalizing Porn Industry?Google Reverses Adult/Porn Site PenaltiesGoogle Search Spanks The Adult Porn Industry?Google Webmaster Tools Link Reports ChangeGoogle Webmaster Tools Adds Some FeaturesGoogle Now Notifying Webmasters After Reconsideration Request Review via EmailGoogle Starts Emailing Webmasters Regarding Web Site Issues AgainGoogle Webmaster Tools Link Report Bugs Still An IssueGoogle Bomb Defusing Has Two Algorithms
Microsoft Bing Still Spamming Fake Referrers In Webmaster Log FilesBing's Fake Referrer Spam Back, Now Hiding Referrer Now?Did Microsoft Finally Fix The Fake Referrer Spam Issue?Bing Classifies Cloaking Detection as "Single Word Query" IssueMore Cloaking Tests In Form Of Fake Referrers From Microsoft Bing?Microsoft To Fix Fake Referrer Data From Live SearchWhat is "Page Score" in Bing Webmaster Tools?Bing's MSNBot Crawl Happy?MSNBot Crawl Delay Doesn't DelayBing Not Honoring Robots.txt Directives?Is Bing Ignoring The NoArchive Tag?Is Bing Not Honoring NOODP Tag?Bing's Geo Targeting Algorithm Needs Some WorkBing May Allow Management of Quick Preview BoxBing's Traffic Spike From Fake Spam Tests?
Yahoo Search Powered By Microsoft Bing: What SEMs Need To KnowYahoo Site Explorer Adds Key Terms, Delicious Activities, Delicious Tags & SearchMonkey ObjectsYahoo Site Explorer Adds Top Queries ReportSEO Community Worried About Yahoo's ToolsYahoo Search Review Form Same As Trash Bin?
Get Ready, Here Come More Google AdWords Account BansGoogle Responds To Mass Google AdWords Advertiser Banning & WarningsGoogle Begins Banning Google AdWords ScamsGoogle AdWords Banning Advertisers For Multiple "Poor Quality Landing Pages"Banned Google AdWords Accounts Will Likely Never Be UnsuspendedMore Google Advertisers Being Forced into New Interface, Including MeGoogle Pushing AdWords Search Ads Closer To Free ListingsGoogle Confirms Higher Click Through Rate As Result of Ads Position To Free ListingsGoogle Now Enforcing 35 Character Display URL PolicyGoogle AdWords Ad Sitelinks, Now OfficialGoogle Comparison Ads For Mortgages & RefinancingA Look at Google AdWords Newish AdsGoogle AdWords New Beta Keyword ToolGoogle's New Keyword Tool Unveils Mobile Search VolumeGoogle AdWords Testings New Bulk Keyword Diagnose ToolsGoogle AdWords Bid Simulator Live For More AdvertisersDetailed Screen Captures of Google's New Ad Planner Publisher CenterAds to be Integrated into Google Search SuggestionsGoogle Testing SearchWiki On AdWordsGoogle AdWords Testing "Timeframe" Budget OptionGoogle AdWords Tests Open Image Product AdsGoogle AdWords Tests New Form of Product AdsGoogle Testing One Line Product Links in AdWordsGoogle AdWords Accounts Hit With "Low Share of Voice" NoticeGoogle's Behavioral Ad Beta Scares Publishers Over Contextual RelevancyGoogle Drops Audio/Radio Ads, Some Advertisers CareGoogle Confirms New Display URL Policy: One Domain Per Ad GroupGoogle AdWords API v2009 Gets Asynchronous Calls & Version 13 Sunsets April 22, 2010
More Screen Shots of Google's New Beta AdSense InterfaceGoogle AdSense Ads Get Special "Featured Ads" With StarsAdSense Rejections Over "Difficult Site Navigation"DoubleClick Now Integrated With Google AdWords, Impacts AdSenseGoogle AdSense Welcomes Third-Party Ad NetworksGoogle AdSense Expands Category Filtering & Adds FeaturesGoogle Confirms AdSense Arrows ChangesGoogle AdSense Fixes a "Hardcore" But "Minor" BugGoogle AdSense Login Issue Two Different Issues?Google AdSense Locks Down Publisher Accounts For Manual ReviewGoogle AdSense Publishers Happy With Competitive Ad Filter ChangesGoogle AdSense Gives US Font Size ControlGoogle Adds Images To Link Units PagesGoogle Testing Larger Fonts On AdSense UnitsGoogle Finally Gives AdSense Publishers Font SelectionGoogle Opens AdSense For Domains InternationallyGoogle Announces AdSense for iPhone & Android AppsGoogle Delays Payments To Publishers Yet Another MonthGoogle Sent AdSense Publisher Wrong Check
Yahoo Search Marketing:
Yahoo Search Marketing Changes Pricing Algorithm & Adds Partner ReportingYahoo's New Local Targeting Feature Showing Poor Quality Traffic?Yahoo Adds Day Parting, Bid Adjustments, Enhanced Geo Targeting But No One CaresYahoo Search Marketing Lowering Minimum Bids For ManyAdvertisers Are Excited For Yahoo's New Online Ad ToolsYahoo Officially Launches Video & Image Search AdsYahoo Now Calling Us Liars Regarding Their Auto-Optimization of CampaignsYahoo Has The Nerve To Change Advertisers Campaigns After OutcryYahoo Updates Search Advertisers Terms & Conditions
Bing adCenter Ads:
Microsoft Admits To Clicking On Their Own Search AdsMSNBot Clicking on Bing adCenter Search Ads?Bing's Quality Based Ranking Team for adCenterMicrosoft To Open adCenter Content Ads As Public Beta
Google Maps Updates Business Listing Quality GuidelinesGoogle Maps Drops Tele Atlas For Google Data in USPlace Pages: Google Gives Everyone A Page On Google MapsDetailed Look At Google's New Local Business Center AnalyticsGoogle Maps Merging Competing Business's Local InformationGoogle Maps Pornography : Google Can't Keep UpLondon Escort Service Using Seductive Images in Google Maps Business ListingsAdult Spam Makes Its Way Into Google MapsGoogle Maps Showing Adult Images From PanoramioGoogle Showing Only 7 of 10 Local Results NowGoogle Bug Removes Web Designers in Local PackGoogle Maps to Fix One Web Box Result BugGoogle Gets Generic on Local Web Search QueriesGoogle Maps Navigation Makes iPhone Users & Others Jealous of DroidGoogle Maps New Bulk Upload Verification ProcessBlue Google Map Pins in Google AdWords ResultsGoogle Maps Helps Businesses Find ThemselvesGoogle Adds "Is This Accurate" To Map Details on Web Search"Place Closed" In Google Maps: Close Your Competitors Down on GoogleGoogle to Sprinkle Ads All Over Google Maps?Google Maps Helps Colorblind See Traffic
Wolfram Alpha : The Real ThingTwitter Focuses In On Search With New Home PageYouTube Testing 3D Videos (YT3D)Facebook Launches Usernames But Stumps Sabbath Observers
Survey: Most SEOs Won't Link To CompetitorsGoogle Sandbox: Does/Did it Exist? Poll Results87% Won't Allow Google To Manage Their AdWords AccountsSEO Show Offs: Poll Results75% of SEOs Feel Google Loves Keywords in the URLPoll: Google AdWords Roll Over InfoResults Are In: Is SEOMoz's Ranking Factors Accurate? Mostly, Yes86% Of SEOs Say They Can Rank #1 In Both Google.com & Regional GooglesPoll: 38% Will Keep NoFollows On Their Links96% Say Clients Need To Be Involved In the SEO Process56% of Google AdSense Publishers Say Earnings Are Down in July 200982% Say We Should Name Some Google UpdatesLink Addiction: 46% Of SEOs are Active Link Builders60% Of Our Readers Feel Yahoo Cannot Turn Things AroundDMOZ (ODP): "Submit Once & Forget It" Says SEOs60% Of Our Readers Like The Bing CommercialsThe Perfect AdSense Professional TitlePoll Results On How Google Views SEOs (Innocent or Guilty)Most Our Readers Like Yahoo's New Home Page70% Of Our Readers Like Bing80% Of SEOs Said They Can Beat Wikipedia In Google76% of SEMs Don't Fully Trust Google's Keyword ToolMost SEMs Prefer Google's New U.S. AdWords Trademark PolicyMost Webmasters Will Use Google's New Rich Snippet Markups56% of Google Advertisers Dislike New AdWords InterfaceMost Google AdSense Publishers Have Not Updated Their Privacy Policies7% Unemployment In Search Marketing IndustryMost SEOs Use Interns For Link Building54% of SEOs Believe in Artificial Google PageRankMost SEOs Believe Google Has Keyword Specific Penalty80% Say SEOs Need Some Coding AbilitiesTuesday Mornings: Best Time To Send Out Link Request EmailsAdvertisers Want Google AdWords Time Zone SettingsGoogle Analytics Users Want Longer Data Storage For FreeSEOs Split On If Store Discounts Are Equal to Link BuyingPoll Result: How Long Does It Take To Rank Well?23% of Google AdSense Publishers Say 75% of Their Income Comes From GoogleSEO's Split on Importance of Specialization in Industry SectorsPoll: Search Engines Should Pass Value From URL Shortening ServicesMost SEM Companies Are Weathering Recession Just Fine55% Of SEO Companies Won't Offer Pay For Performance DealsStudy: Fear Still Exists Over Google's Supplemental IndexMany SEOs Get Their Hands Dirty By Coding Web SitesMost SEOs Work On Both Clients Projects & Solo Projects70% Of Google AdSense Publisher Report Lower Earnings in January '09Survey Says: Google Sitemaps Gets Credit For Faster IndexingAdSense Publisher Find Optimization Reports To Be a Waste of TimePoll: Most SEOs Say PageRank Data in Google Webmaster Tools is UselessPoll: I Want A Link In The Top Paragraph PleasePoll: SEOs Say Alt Attribute Does Improve Search Rankings
Sphinn Comes Out of BetaDanny Sullivan Looks Back at Starting Search Marketing ConferencesThe Matt Cutts Hair Cut VideoGoogle's Logo Questioned On Who Wants To Be a Millionaire ShowMatt Cutts of Google Now Industry's "Hot Guy"?Google Help Forums Get A RedesignGoogleGuy Retire From WebmasterWorld Again?Sphinn 2.0 Launches On Two Year AnniversaryYou Don't Have To Sell Out To Blog In This IndustryApril Fools Day & Search IndustrySearch Engine Land Does Major Revamp: Becomes More News FormattedAre SEO Blackhats Turning White or Is The Industry Melting?
Holiday & Event Logos:
Thanksgiving Greetings 2009 From Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask & Search IndustryVeteran's Day 2009 Logos from Google, Bing, Ask But Not YahooGoogle's Sesame Street Logo Finale : 12 DoodlesSesame Street Count(s) Day 6 Trumps Berlin Wall LogoHalloween Logos from Search Engines: Google, Bing, Yahoo & Many MoreTurkey Upset With Google Over Green Colored Republican Day Doodle?Columbus Day Theme by Bing, Not Google, Yahoo, Ask.com or AOLGoogle The Bar Code LogoGoogle's Happy Birthday Gandhi LogoGoogle's Confucius Birthday LogoGoogle Double LL Logo? Nope. Google's 11th Birthday TodayFirst Day of Autumn by Bing, Not Google, Yahoo or Ask.comGoogle's Flying Saucer Logos Lead to H.G. WellsNo 9/11 Logo From Google, But Bing & Ask.com RememberGoogle's 09/09/09 Logo (Doodle)2009 Labor Day Logos from Bing, Ask, DogPile But Not Google or YahooGoogle's Michael Jackson Logo Sparks DebateA Google Bomb Logo? Nope. Hans Christian Ørsted BirthdayPerseids Meteor Shower Coming: Google Got a Doodle For ThatMoon Landing Logos From Bing, YouTube But Not GoogleGoogle Commemorates Nikola Tesla's BirthdayJuly 4th Search Engine Logos (Google, Yahoo, Bing, AOL & Others)Google Upsets The Southern Hemisphere Over First Day of Winter LogoFather's Day '09 Logos From Google, Yahoo & Search IndustrySearchers Disappointed With Google Celebrating Tetris Over Honoring D-DayGoogle Finally Commemorates Memorial Day, Like Yahoo, AOL, Live & Ask.comHappy Mother's Day Logos From Google & Search Industry (2009)Google Logo Not Broken, It's Morse Code'09 Earth Day Logos From Google, Yahoo, AOL & Others in Search IndustryEaster Logos From Search Engines But Not Google or YahooHappy First Day of Spring :: Logos From Google & Others2009 St. Patrick's Day Search LogosHappy Purim: No Logo From Google This YearHappy Square Root Day : Google Not That Geeky?Mardi Gras '09 Logos From Live, DogPile, AOL & OthersGoogle & Yahoo Stiff America On President's Day But Logos From Live.com, Ask.com, & Others2009 Valentines Day Logos from Google, Yahoo, Live & Search IndustrySuper Bowl 43 & Groundhog Day Logos from Search EnginesChinese New Year At Yahoo.com & Google's Malaysia SiteSearch Logos for Inauguration Day, Did Google & Yahoo Forget?Martin Luther King Day 2009: Logos from Google, Yahoo, Ask, Live, Dogpile & MoreHappy '09 New Years From Search Industry: Logos from Google, Yahoo, AOL, Live, Ask & OthersHappy Holiday '08 From The Search Engine Industry
SEM Conference Coverage 2009:
PubCon 2009 Vegas Coverage RecapSMX East 2009 Big Session Coverage RecapRoundtable Covers 30 Sessions at SES San Jose 2009Search Marketing Expo 2009 West