Anybody Understand Google and SEO?

[outlandishmagpie]

I am developing a series of sites for local business and I have come across something strange. I have just managed to get two of these local sites to the first page on Google. But I noticed, by accident, that they are in different positions depending on whether I use IE or Firefox. I have been assuming that Google search results would be independent of the search engine used. In other words, IE and Firefox are delivering differing results for the same search queries. I have checked all the parameters and they are identical in each case.

Now this doesn't bother me for this case as my sites are on the first page for both IE and Firefox, but it would be useful to understand why this happens because I can foresee scenarios where a site would be on the first page of, say, IE but not of Firefox. This would cause me problems, probably cured by getting both engines to give me first place ratings.

Have you come across this? And do you have any explanation?

[onlinebizgiant]

I think it depends upon your search history. Google tracks this and it seems to be done in the browser you are using. It moves results around based on sites you have clicked on in the past. If you click on your own site often it moves it up in the results.

[Karen Barr]

Yeah, its personalisation based on your surfing history. Always check rankings with a third party tool that evades the personalisation. Scroogle.org, or go through HideMyAss proxy, or use SEOBook's Rank Checker plugin for FF.

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by outlandishmagpie

they are in different positions depending on whether I use IE or Firefox.

They're actually in different positions according to the browser's history.

It's not about whether it's IE or Firefox. It's about cookies. If you remove cookies and offline content and use a fresh installation of the browser, you'll get different results again.

This is normal.

Originally Posted by outlandishmagpie

my sites are on the first page for both IE and Firefox

On your PC, perhaps. That doesn't mean they necessarily are on those of others.

[MIRENGE]

I have noticed this also and i have been wondering why Google could rank you differently using different browsers

[dark witness]

it's nothing new.

I clear my cookies and cache and then the results tend to match up. I never click on my own sites through google's search results either.

[David Ogden]

Search results can vary quite widely, much depends on you browser and search setup, with Google you can usually change from a general search to local search and this will show a totally different set of results.

What you see in your results is often different to what other people see. Google skew the results even further is you are signed in to Google plus, to move your sites nearer the top. They make an attempt to show you what they thing you want to see, so you are pleased with the results.

[outlandishmagpie]

Thank you all. I've just checked my sites on a friend's pc and that shows my sites on the second page of Google. Looks like I've still got a bit of backlinking to do.

[Zack Jones]

Google search results have nothing to do with the kind of browser one may be using. Otherwise Google wouldn't be the search engine of choice for most people out there, would it?

[julianbooth123]

This problem is all about whether the cookies and the search history is clear from both the browsers. First clear the search history from both the browsers and then check the rankings for both of them. The rankings for both should be same now.