Comments on: Why Are the Search Engines Fixing Something That’s Not Broken?

By: Rosa

Rosa — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:14:13 +0000

I think users see internet technology as an ever changing thing. They may resist change but still expect it. Also I think that ultimately Google will just replicate the technology that proves itself and continue to dominate the market. Change will seem less drastic when it comes from a familiar site. This video has more about the 3 engines (Kumo, Google, Wolfram Alpha) : http://www.newsy.com/videos/searching_how_to_se...

By: Kumo: Can Microsoft Play with the Big Search Engine Players? - Epiphany Search Marketing Blog

Fri, 22 May 2009 09:01:50 +0000

[...] do it Again! Although ‘Kumo’ already has plenty of critics, the key to Microsoft’s success definitely lies in experimenting. I believe they need to adapt [...]

By: Brad Carroll

Brad Carroll — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:19:56 +0000

I don't know if search needs to be fixed, but unless you're number 1 in your market, it can't hurt to shake things up a little bit and see where it gets you.

By: Deeho

Deeho — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:21:48 +0000

It seems to me that change is happening for the sake of change. Video is searchable in the main index why exactly? Google set out to offer clean easy results and has done so for years, each step taken of late seems to be one step closer to the edge of the cliff in my humble opinion.

By: Home-Work-Newbie

Home-Work-Newbie — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:55:57 +0000

Progress can often seem as a step back in someways but there are exciting times ahead in search. I've been reading a lot more about the Semantic Web and how that will affect SEs and how they work… interesting times.

Personally, I agree with you that I started using Google for the sheer simplicity of it, but everytime they add new features, I love them! Bring on the future, I say!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:45:56 +0000

there is always room for improvement, bring on semantic search. I do like the direction search is going as long as they keep it simple.

By: Wednesday Online Marketing Wrap Up - May 20th 2009 | SEO & Online Reputation Management Blog | One Result

Thu, 21 May 2009 08:38:07 +0000

[...] You’ve heard the expression, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Marketing Pilgrim are wondering this week why the search engines seem to be set on fixing that which ain’t broken. They say, and rightly too, that the old tried and tested simplicity of the search engines works and works really well. Why then are the same search engines trying to become more sexy, or whatever it is they seem to be trying? Marketing Pilgrim have a good point: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2009/05/why-are-the-search-engines-fix ing-something-thats-not-broken… [...]

By: Michael Heavener

Michael Heavener — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:57:27 +0000

They're risking jeopardizing people like my wife who don't give a rip what's under the hood as long as they get results from their searches. These people do NOT like surprises or changes. And they are exceptionally vocal and tend to be brand-hoppers (i.e. extremely disloyal when displeased).

I can say for sure that if my wife sees anything different than what she's had before (1) she'll chew my ear off; (2) she'll tell several hundred other people how awful it is; (3) she'll start bouncing complaints against anyone she sees (including advertisers); and (d) she'll quit using the site that offended her.

I guarantee there are several million people just like her who constitute a large margin of purchasers and who have no moral dilemma about severing relations with companies that irk them.

Google might need to be mindful that technology for technology's sake doesn't drive the Internet no matter how much they think -- technology to support commerce does. Break any part of the motor, and the car dies. Too many dead cars start littering the roads and Congress steps in to fix things.

By: Miss Masters

Miss Masters — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:29:01 +0000

I guess I like searching the way I am use to it, I see no need for any change — but that is just me. I suppose if they change it up I will get use to the new and “improved” way. I don't want to bash innovation or anything because I like sliced bread as much as I like the old full unsliced loaf. What ever, it isn't like they are going to come ask me for my opinion so what ever will be — will be.

By: CD Rates

CD Rates — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:40:50 +0000

New Fire, maybe not, but can you say, Duraflame.

Wheat vs. White.

We tend to resist change, but often once we see that it is better, we embrace it. Yes, I like the 10 blue links, but is there a way to better display it and offer more than 10? Or make those ten more appealing.

By: FrankReed

FrankReed — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:47:31 +0000

I am working on a new and improved fire that I think the market place will really appreciate.

By: Stephen Ward

Stephen Ward — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:24:12 +0000

The question then becomes, is search one of those things that can't be improved? Since we can't yet think and get exactly the information we want without delay or refinement, I'd say no.

By: Week of May 17th, 2009 - What’s Buzzing? | Synergy Buzz Blog

Week of May 17th, 2009 - What’s Buzzing? | Synergy Buzz Blog — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:14:46 +0000

[...] Marketing Pilgrim asks Why the Search Engines are trying to fix something that isn’t broke. [...]

By: Marios Alexandrou

Marios Alexandrou — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:10:36 +0000

One perspective is that if companies always waited for consumers to know what it is they wanted, there'd be a lot less innovation. We consumers are not as smart as we like to think we are and only after something useful is thrust upon us do we wonder how we lived without it.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:06:26 +0000

Thanks for adding your .02.

Of course, you are right, we should never stop innovating, but some things don't ever really get better = sliced bread, fire, wheel.

By: Stephen Ward

Stephen Ward — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:04:10 +0000

I think wagons worked fine, but clearly automobiles were better. Just because you arrive at a good solution doesn't necessarily mean a better solution isn't possible, and you never know that unless you innovate. Just my $0.02.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:41 +0000

I'm not using WA as an example of “how search is going wrong” but as the catalyst for what appears to be a shift towards presenting structured data by the search engines.

By: Reuben Yau

Reuben Yau — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:58:28 +0000

It's like the evolution of msdos to windows. Both have their reasons for being and both appeal to different types of people, so they don't have to mutually exclusive.

By: Nigel Legg

Nigel Legg — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:53:52 +0000

People like you continuing to include WolframAlpha in a list of search engines only serve to continue the confusion around the system. As you rightly say, it is a computational knowledge engine. It calculates stuff for you. It does not set out to find information, but to represent it and recalculate it. Using it as an example of how search is going wrong is wrong: if I want to find a short simple fact or some figures, I'll go to WA; if I want to find a company web page, or a site about a particular topic, I'll go to google. Different tasks, different tools.