Google Unveils the “SearchWiki”

This past November, Google unveiled its next generation of “Search.”  The “SearchWiki” is a service that will allow a more interactive way to search the web. Users will be able to add, delete, re-rank, comment on and generally customize their search results.

Here's how it works: If you're logged into your Google account while doing a search, you'll get a series of buttons below the results. For example, clicking on arrow pointing upward moves an entry higher on the page, while clicking on an "X" will delete the link. These modifications will reappear every time you do the same search in the future.

In addition, users will also be able to open a box to make notes about different sites they can be read again in the future. The comments also will be shared with others who are logged in, if they click on a link for "See all notes for this SearchWiki."

What does this mean for Search Engine Marketers? Though not immediately clear, it most likely means that your site will have to appeal to people as well as to machines in  order to get improved rankings. The quality of the content as well as the overall user experience will become increasingly important as users “rate” the sites that turn up in their search results

For more information about SearchWiki and a short video demonstration of all its features please see googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/searchwiki-make-search-your-own.html