Midas Oracle .ORG

Chris F. Masse May 23rd, 2008

-

Nigel Eccles:

How do I improve the search ranking of a page on our site?

I am one of the co-founders of Hubdub, which is a news prediction game. A couple of weeks ago we created a market on which of the This Week in Tech panelists would have the most followers on Twitter by Sunday May 25th. The question page is here:
http://www.hubdub.com/m7040/TWiT_Twitter_Derby_Wholl_be_most_followed_by_midnight_May_25th

The market is really popular and we got mentioned on the TWiT show (which was great as we are big fans), posted to Digg, tweeted about on Twitter, and couple of bloggers [that includes MIdas Oracle] have posted about it. The thing is when you search for “Twit Twitter Derby” we come up on the second page despite all the above linking to that page on our site.

I believe we have a good search profile with a page rank of 5, a flat structure (that page is 1-2 clicks from the homepage) and SEO friendly URLs. Therefore, why we rate so poorly on content that is unique to us is a bit of a mystery. Can anyone offer any guidance?

-

Screen shot of the Google Search:

-

-

The HubDub prediction market page ranks #12.

The HubDub blog on that prediction markets ranks #33 —a total disaster.

-

My thoughts:

1. Logically, if someone creates something, that someone should rank first at Google Search for that query about that something. No question about that.
2. A SEO expert would look into the structure of that “Twit Twitter Derby” prediction market page. I think that’s where the first issue lays —since that prediction market page is amply linked to by everybody talking about the “Twit Twitter Derby”. (So, it’s not that there’s a lack of linking. Jed’s point is weak, I believe.)
3. The second issue is the identification of the owner of that thing, the “Twit Twitter Derby”. I would advise to use sub-brand names that have the term “HubDub” embedded into them. Instead of the term, “Twit Twitter Derby”, I would use the term, “HubDub Twitter Derby” (or something better), and have the bloggers cite that whole phrase without omitting the term “HubDub” —that way, since the domain name where that page is located is “hubdub.com”, you’re almost guaranteed that that prediction market page will rank #1. Google will easily understand that “HubDub Twitter Derby” belongs to hubdub.com.
4. The third issue is the value for the Google researchers —and that’s up to Google’s appreciation. The fact is that search engine algorithms understand the value of texts (like the text of this present blog post, where I have repeated many times the phrase “Twit Twitter Derby”), but they have much more difficulty figuring out charts, widgets, images, outbound links, etc. And, on that prediction market page, I don’t see much text. I don’t see a long text where the keyword “Twit Twitter Derby” would be repeated over and over.
5. Funny to see that all 5 answers posted at LinkedIn in response to Nigel Eccles’ question (about his “Twit Twitter Derby” problem) are totally pointless —none of them cracked open the problem.
6. That said, what is more preoccupying is that that prediction market (which is one of HubDub’s most popular ones) is linked to by so few bloggers, and that the HubDub blog post on the “Twit Twitter Derby” prediction market ranks almost last. That’s where the real disaster is. Nigel Eccles pays good money to a bunch of amateurish bloggers, with the objectives of drawing traffic and understanding to his HubDub prediction markets —and the end result is a total disaster. Money wasted thru the window. Midas Oracle ranks #2, and the HudDub blog ranks #33.
   
7. That reinforces my conviction that prediction market journalism is an issue of grand importance for the field of prediction markets, and that can’t be left to clueless amateurs managed by incompetent bozos.
8. For a more detailed solution about your “Twit Twitter Derby” problem, Nigel, pass by my office at 4:45 pm later today —and don’t forget your checkbook.

-

Tags: bloggers, blogging, Google Search, Google Web Search, HubDub, linking, Midas Oracle, Nigel Eccles, prediction market journalism, rankings, referrals, SEO, TWiT Twitter Derby, web search results

• Exchanges & Markets , Information Technology , Internet Usability , Journalism & Prediction Market Journalism , Marketing & Internet Marketing
• Comments(3)