Media Centre: News Releases
Google goes retro…Search
results like its 1969
November 12th, 2004
The Neutralize (*\*) technical team have confirmed a bug in Google whereby it is sometimes showing old and erroneous results. The problem seems to effect websites using the correct domain redirection technique specified in their FAQ's.
Sites affected are seeing results from domains that have been made redundant and traffic forwarded to another website using a 301 redirect. Pages from these redundant domains have started appearing for searches against the other website. They are also showing an index date of 1969 – evidently not true.
This suggests that Google uses dates to archive old listings, as these should no longer be available online at all.
A recent announcement declared Google had 8 Billion pages in their database, however conspiracy theorists are suggesting Google are potentially padding the database to quote higher index figures in order to steal Microsoft’s thunder.
Theories aside we are much more concerned with the technical implications this may have. The Neutralize (*\*) SEO team are keeping a very close eye on Google to see what the implications are and if required will be issuing update suggestions to affected clients.
About
Neutralize
Neutralize is one of the UK’s leading full service search
engine marketing agencies. An Overture Accredited
SEM (Search
Marketing Company), UK Premier Affiliate to Atlas OnePoint(GoToast)
and also a Contributor Member of SEMPO (Search
Engine Marketing Professional Organisation) http://www.sempo.org
the global body representing members of the search engine marketing industry.
Clients include the Houses of Parliament, Asserta Home, OCRA and the Eden
Project.
Lotte Mahon
T. 0870 0630707
E.
U. http://www.neutralize.com
All trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
