How Can This Happen?

I just typed in a certain keyword in Google that was relevant to a friend's business. I noticed that she ranked number one. I called her and told her about this. She went to Google and typed in the same keyword and she wasn't even listed on the first page. How can this happen?

Thanks, Karen

 

Firstly it depends which Google she and you were using. The domain extension does make a difference, if your using .com and she is using .co.uk there will be a difference.

Secondly it could be to do with the datacentres and which one the server is being sent information from however its more likely to be the first.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for your response - We are both using .com

 

I have seen difference in result if you use diff OS, Browser and location even state if you both reside in US.

 

I have noticed that Google has been filtering or targeting search results individually based on users previous searches.

 

are you in a same country
or you choose a different preference

 

different extension of google can be took in account but giving search result according to user pc or perticular network ip can not be took in account., i think so,,,,,,,if not illustrate it,

 

One very tiny issue that we overlook is case sensitivity.
It also matters when you are searching with a keyword.
I once found different results for following -

"burials at sea newport beach" and
"Burials at Sea Newport Beach"

Sometime it happens, not every time

 

Hi, Karen. What you are talking about is not uncommon, but it's confusing.

Could be a datacenter issue; you're pulling from one, your friend from another.

Here is the Google Dance tool, showing each data center's results simultaneously, which could be helpful to you in this situation.

http://www.google-dance-tool.com/

There are other results anomalies, as well. For instance, on 3 occasions this week, I got different results for the same search within 5 seconds of each other. I always check our sites' rankings when I get to the office in the morning. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I searched for one term, which we'd ranked on the first page for since last week. The first seach yeilded a #11 result, which is the top of page 2. I clicked "Search" again, and poof! Our #10 ranking was there. One day, it even moved up to a #6. I have no clue why it happened, but it did.

Google is such a mystery sometimes.

 

wow great tool tara, it might be helpful me

 

Do you have a google account? were you logged in?
If so, you're seeing personalised search results based on your previous search history
Nice article here on what effect this has on results
www.viperchill.com/google-personalised-results/

 

It is not anything strange because it happens.
It happened to me a bunch of times and the worst
part is that it did when I really needed
google to be accurate... Nevertheless, I do not know
actually why.

 

Some great inputs in here. And thanks for the link Tara33