Google’s Experiments to Mess With Your Mind

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 by Andy Beal

Google’s Experiments to Mess With Your Mind

Yesterday, we talked about the importance of A/B and multivariate testing. Google offers Website Optimizer (for free) and now we learn just how much the search engine eats its own dog food.

Here’s an A/B experiment that Google has conducted. See if you can spot the difference.

Page 1:

Page 2:

Yeah, I didn’t spot it either, but apparently there is slightly more white space around the first listing, in page 1.

Should you be that granular with your A/B testing? Maybe not, but Google explains just how subtly it’s messing with your mind testing your preferences each day.

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12 comments on “Google’s Experiments to Mess With Your Mind”

Nick Stamoulis Says:

August 27th, 2008 at 10:40 am

This is a great find…I would not have noticed it unless your pointed it out!

Nick Stamoulis’s last blog post..How Easy Is It To Write A PPC Ad?
Otilia @ Ad Ops Online Says:

August 27th, 2008 at 11:33 am

It’s just a subtle way for the pigeons team to indicate if there’s an imminent PageRank increase: pages that are to get a PR boost will be surrounded by a slightly larger white space.
Have you checked all your indexed pages today?

Otilia @ Ad Ops Online’s last blog post..Google Ad Manager out of Beta; All AdSense Publishers Can Use It
Utah SEO Pro Says:

August 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

It’s the little things that make such a difference sometimes.

Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Building an SEO Friendly Site – SES San Jose 2008 Presentation
Tinx Money Says:

August 27th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I didn’t even realize that until I read this post…
Dylan Darling Says:

August 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

Wow! Interesting find. I wouldn’t have noticed it either. I wonder what the effects of this are, more clicks?
Bloggers Digest - 08/29/08 | Get Elastic Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 7:19 am

[...] is always testing – but often the tests are so subtle you hardly notice them. Andy Beal and Manoj Jasra both spotted some, betcha can’t tell what Google’s testing just by [...]
Games Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 8:10 am

Quite interesting. Google is just testing us everyday.
Juicy Links: August 25 - August 29 : Exclusive Concepts Blog Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 1:02 pm

[...] Google’s Experiments to Mess With Your Mind [...]
Dieta Personalizzata Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm

That’s a hard knock.

Means if google split tests then we should all do it too.

PS. i would’nt have spot the difference if left alone

Dieta Personalizzata’s last blog post..Scienziati Di Fama Mondiale Per Herbalife
SEO forums Says:

September 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm

I am still not able to point out the difference between two pics

SEO forums’s last blog post..At last Google Referral ads are down.
horisly Says:

September 6th, 2008 at 1:20 pm

ok, what’s the difference between the two?

horisly’s last blog post..August.2008 Sales: Mercedes Benz Down 12 Percent
GiuseppeMartone Says:

November 18th, 2008 at 7:28 am

For me, there’s not differences!!Google make his tests on Us!!Ever

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