Hi Folks, I have a question for all the SEO gurus out there. My company is seriously considering bringing an SEO consultant on board, but the powers that be have become a bit hesitant ever since google has announce google COOP. The decision makers in my company are afraid that the introduction of a "custom" search engine is going to bring the world of natural SEO to a screeching halt. Do you guys have any feedback on google coop, and give me your opinions on whether you think this new tool will have an influence, if any, on the way that google ranks the sites that it indexes? Thanks, Ben
It will be many months before custom engines take enough market share away from Google's own search engine + Yahoo and MSN for general SEO to become a waste of time. Depends a bit on what you offer of course whether you will make the investment back in time. If there is a giant shift away to these niche engines, it only proves the point that quality websites are important, sites that the end user enjoys using.
It makes no difference at all. Less than 1% of the online population will ever use Google Coop or Google Custom Search as its now called. Most people go to google.com or google.co.uk and just search for what they want. They will never see a custom search engine.
Even if the Coop did change things the only people who will understand the whole thing are the SEO's so you still need to hire one whatever happens. By SEO here I am meaning a proper SEO, not somebody who optimises your title tags for a couple of weeks.