"Timmermans" <steventimmermans@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

[ split results ]

> For months and months?

Yup. Others stated similar time frames, so yeah :-)

> I have avoided it pretty good then, it's the
> first time see it. Then again, I have been concentrating on MSN and
> Yahoo lately.

Yeah, I use Google a lot for searching. Still the main SE here.

> Is it an experiment or something?

Everything @ Google is beta isn't it? But I think it's fair to state that
it's not an experiment since it's out in the wild. It might be refined
though, I guess.

> Is this how
> everything will eventually be displayed?

No, I think it's mostly used when Google "thinks" that the user looking
for "A" is actually looking for "B" and "Did you mean:" isn't the right
option.

> I do not see the advantages of this.

From a SEO point of view? :-D.

> If they devide the first results
> page up in three... then yeah sure, you have three different number 1
> results. But where before a top 10 position would give you a spot on
> the first page of the results, you now need at least a top 4 or better
> a top 3 result.

Depends on what the visitor is looking for. Maybe we can come up with a
list of phrases that trigger this effect so we can analyze it better? I
have the feeling that it's often presented as a suggestion: you searched
for "A" but maybe you actually want "B"?

> And then be lucky you end up in the first mentioned
> category. Best position for a number 1 result in the third category
> would actually display a site as seventh result. That is not very
> motivating.
>
> I would prefer the most relevant result first, nevermind the multiple
> choices.

But Google "thinks" that the alternatives are more relevant compared to
more of the same ;-)


--
John Need with SEO? Get started with a SEO report of your site:

--> http://johnbokma.com/websitedesign/seo-expert-.html