Get Paid to run QC for Google Search Results

I read in an Axandra Newsletter how Google is hiring and employing "International Agents" to check search results and rate their relevance. According to the article, these candidates will also be filtering web pages that use "unethical" search engine optimization techniques like hidden text, cloaking, keyword stuffing, etc.

I like the idea of humans getting involved with the removal of search engine spam but I am a little skeptical over what they may deem as "relevant."

Web Tools for the Editor

When it comes to searching, categorizing and adding web sites to a directory there are a handful of tools that can help. Here are some that I use and would absolutely recommend:

• Mozilla Firefox - This web browser is said to be on pace to rival Microsoft's Internet Explorer. So far it boasts more than 64 million users. One major improvement over Internet Explorer is the ability to open multiple tabs for browsing within the same window. I find Firefox to be less susceptible to spyware, scumware, and other Internet bugs. It comes with a resilient pop-up blocker and a built in dropdown menu for searching Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Dictionary.com and others. There are also many cool extensions you can add to this browser that will enable you to enhance browsing and editing capabilities.
  
• Google PageRank Status for FireFox - This extension gives me the PageRank for sites when using FireFox. It will also notify me when a site is listed in the Google Directory by displaying a small image to the right of the PageRank value. When this image is displayed, users can click the PageRank area and it will open the Google category in a new tab to show where the site is listed within the Google Directory.
• Google Toolbar - I have this installed on both IE and Firefox. I use this to search Google web results, images, directory results, news and more. It also allows me to check backlinks and the PageRank (IE only) for any given site.
• Google Deskbar - Installs right into the Windows taskbar (to the left of the computer clock) and allows users to easily search the web using Google. This tool is a time saver for sure. Users can customize searches and create corresponding shortcuts. For example, I set up a customized search for Overture's Keyword Selector Tool and then assigned it a shortcut (Ctrl + O). So when I want to check the amount of queries on certain keywords, I simply type them into my Google Deskbar and hit Ctrl + O.

That's about it. Oh yea, spell checking! It might help to keep MS Word open to copy and past site title's and descriptions and check for spelling.

Google Likes it O'Naturale

An excellent read for understanding why Google favors websites with a more natural approach to growing inbound links AND penalizes those websites that purchase hundreds or thousands of links overnight.

Here's a little sample:

... what Google is trying to do is safeguard the integrity of their search results by ruling out massive overnight link purchases. We're talking thousands of links here. Without these safeguards, search results can be dramatically skewed by the practice of buying large chunks of links. There is clearly something wrong with a system that claims that link popularity is an indicator of site quality if a site suddenly has thousands of inbound links when just a week ago it had none.

**Read more from Rick Hendershot over at Self SEO.

Warning: Your blog could get you fired!

Interesting article from USAToday warning employees of the risks involved with blogging. Apparently some employees lost their jobs because they talked negatively about co-workers, bad-mouthed their company, and/or published information about unreleased products... well, what did they expect? You can't be doing that!

Now it seems that major companies are handing out employee blogging guidelines to help prevent problems. Great, that's just what us bloggers want - guidelines to dull the creative process. Perhaps HR should hire those with more common sense?

AOL Finally Launches Free Email Service

With the latest upgrade of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), America Online is offering a FREE Web-based email service. This is an alternative to its fee-based email service and is geared to compete with the Free email services already offered by Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft.

You hear that Mom and Dad? Save yourselves the $20 per month (or whatever it is you have been spending since 1997)!!

iPod BoomBox

Turn any iPod and iPod mini into a bumpin' boombox with Altec Lansing's new "inMotion iM7," priced at $249.95. Yea, I know it seems pricey but it is still cheaper than the Bose SoundDock ($300) and has a lot more features. It comes with a wireless remote to select songs and adjust volume, bass, and treble. The iM7 can be powered by batteries or can be plugged into a nearby outlet for AC power. It even recharges iPods while in use. For more technical specs or to purchase visit AltecLansing.com.

For product review's and a quick media intro, try CNET.

GoogleGuy Speaketh!

The anonymous GoogleGuy has organized his posts in Webmaster World, offering some insight and advice relating to the most recent search algorithm update named "Bourbon." He also touches on issues relating to the crawling of affiliate links, (301) redirects, absolute vs. relative linking, and the displaying of random description snippets listed within the Google SERPs... read on

.xxx Domains Approved for Porn-Friendly Sites

Listening to the Howard Stern show this morning, Robin Quivers reported in her daily news segment that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) says that .xxx domains should be available by the end of this year.

"ICANN's vote represents an abrupt turnabout from the group's earlier stance. In November 2000, the ICANN staff objected to the .xxx domain and rejected ICM Registry's first application."

Since then, Politicians lashed out in a debate to use .xxx domains so Internet users can "flag" adult websites and protect children from pornographic material. However, the American Civil Liberties Union is worried that some nations may force sites dealing with sensitive topics like homosexuality or birth control into a .xxx domain where they can be easily blocked.

I'm all for protecting children from porn and explicit material but I would hate to see politicians go overboard on censoring the "World Wide Web."

Get the full story over at CNET.

Apples are compatible??

I was in the Huntington mall today shopping for some new summer threads and took a little detour into the Apple Store - which happens just about every time I'm in the mall. My girlfriend was commenting that her five year old Dell laptop just isn't cutting it anymore and she plans on getting a new laptop for finishing grad school. As happy iPod owners, the computers in the store have always appealed to us but I have always been skeptical of compatibility with Microsoft Windows.

We were lucky enough to be greeted by Steve, an Apple Store technician who really new his stuff. He cleared up my concerns about Apple computers and their compatibility relating to file and print sharing on a Windows network. He explained that Apple is aware of Microsoft's presence (how could you not be) and that their new operating system, Tiger, allows Apple users to easily share and print files on a Windows network. He also cleared up any questions we had about wireless connectivity, instant messaging, email, and MS Office documents.

Basically, if you were holding off on purchasing an iBook, PowerBook, iMac, or Power Mac because you thought it would cause compatibility issues, you don't have to wait anymore. Anything Internet related will be compatible. Anything Microsoft Office related (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) could be resolved by purchasing Office for Mac. All Apple laptops come with built in wireless chips that can connect to any router. The PowerBooks are even BlueTooth compatible so users can sync with phones and PDA's.

By the time we were done speaking with "The Apple Genius" the PowerBook G4 was instantly bumped to the top of both our wish lists.

Oh yea! If you are a college or grad student Apple will give you a discount - just bring your School ID and driver's license.