The majority of Google searchers never go past the first page of results. Search engines like Google develop searching algorithms to determine how results of a search are returned. Because placement on the results page is critical to attracting customers, many businesses are turning to the services of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consultants. SEO’s will study the latest algorithms from the major search services and manipulate their client’s web pages so that they appear on the first page of search results. Not all SEO’s are reputable. So called black hat SEO’s resort to tricks to push their clients to the top. So when you use Google for your research it is good to be aware of what is going on behind the scenes. For a brief discussion of SEOs see this recent Newsweek article.
(HT techmorandum)
