Can you believe it? SEO can do magic

[bikramksingh]

look at the image below and you will also say WOW...SEO can indeed do magic.

[dminorfmajor]

I rank #1 from my own PC in Google for my local SEO company but if I search from anywhere else, I'm still on page 2.

Point is, Google is slowly integrating your "favorite" sites into the SERPs. Basically they're giving everyone their own, unique results pages.

Either that's what that picture is or it's been edited. Facebook will never, ever lose that #1 spot.

[paulgl]

You were obviously doing something online India-related, as
other Indian sites show up. You also are running evernote.

Not SEO magic, but personalized results. Which is why
people should discount personalized results when doing
SEO.

My guess is you are in India and were doing searches or the like
for apps.

Paul

[bikramksingh]

well, first of all, I do not own the website that ranks number one, and secondly, I do not have anything to do with it (no bookmark nothing). A friend of mine asked me to do this and the screenshot is the example of what I see.

Do one thing:

Go to Google.co.in and search for Facebook and what result you get

or do a normal search with facebook on Google.com and then append the the URL by adding GL=IN at the end

and you will get the same result as I do. Try doing it from the browser you are not logged in. I am equally surprised at this.

[bikramksingh]

Screenshots from other browsers, and its not personalized result for sure.

[MikeFriedman]

Originally Posted by bikramksingh

well, first of all, I do not own the website that ranks number one, and secondly, I do not have anything to do with it (no bookmark nothing). A friend of mine asked me to do this and the screenshot is the example of what I see.

Do one thing:

Go to Google.co.in and search for Facebook and what result you get

or do a normal search with facebook on Google.com and then append the the URL by adding GL=IN at the end

and you will get the same result as I do. Try doing it from the browser you are not logged in. I am equally surprised at this.

You are wrong. You are simply seeing personalized results. Personalized results have nothing to do with sites you own. It has everything to do with sites you visit or have visited in the past.

Go into Google Chrome and open an Incognito window. Then go to Google.co.in and search for Facebook. You will see Facebook.com is the first listing.

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by paulgl

You were obviously doing something online India-related, as
other Indian sites show up. You also are running evernote.

Not SEO magic, but personalized results. Which is why
people should discount personalized results when doing
SEO.

My guess is you are in India and were doing searches or the like
for apps.

Paul

Do it yourself and see if the result you are getting is different than what I got. And I searched for facebook only, nothing else.

I would also advice you to submit the screenshot here.

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

You are wrong. You are simply seeing personalized results. Personalized results have nothing to do with sites you own. It has everything to do with sites you visit or have visited in the past.

Go into Google Chrome and open an Incognito window. Then go to Google.co.in and search for Facebook. You will see Facebook.com is the first listing.

Please see the result of incognito window below:

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by paulgl

You were obviously doing something online India-related, as
other Indian sites show up. You also are running evernote.

Not SEO magic, but personalized results. Which is why
people should discount personalized results when doing
SEO.

My guess is you are in India and were doing searches or the like
for apps.

Paul

Why don't you do the search yourself and share with us your experience (with screenshot if possible). I think it won't take much time.

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with this website. I have not done its SEO or anything

[MikeFriedman]

It probably has something to do with your location then because Facebook is showing up as #1 for me.

[tamiro1992]

Originally Posted by bikramksingh

well, first of all, I do not own the website that ranks number one, and secondly, I do not have anything to do with it (no bookmark nothing). A friend of mine asked me to do this and the screenshot is the example of what I see.

Do one thing:

Go to Google.co.in and search for Facebook and what result you get

or do a normal search with facebook on Google.com and then append the the URL by adding GL=IN at the end

and you will get the same result as I do. Try doing it from the browser you are not logged in. I am equally surprised at this.

i did it on my computer and i still got facebook number one but facebook india IS number 2 which is still pretty awesome.

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

It probably has something to do with your location then because Facebook is showing up as #1 for me.

Originally Posted by tamiro1992

i did it on my computer and i still got facebook number one but facebook india IS number 2 which is still pretty awesome.

Did you try google.co.in? or did you add GL=IN at the end of the search string?

I think this is happening on Google India. Have asked my friends as well, and they are getting same result.

[IMdude123]

yep in google.co.in it is result number 1. how did they do it?

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by IMdude123

yep in google.co.in it is result number 1. how did they do it?

Thanks for confirming it. I am also wondering how did they do it. Found it strange so thought to share it here, but everyone being professionals here, were very skeptic

[bikramksingh]

A result I got from a friend of mine (Diigo link)

[IMdude123]

Originally Posted by Vijaypravin

its fake!!!!

you haven't even searched for it in google.co.in because it is not fake!

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by Vijaypravin

its fake!!!!

First search it then jump with all gun blazing

We all are trying to figure out how it happened, and no one is trying to pat his back on this because its none of our work

[IMdude123]

this is my search result

[yukon]

I read this whole thread & the first thing I thought was like most others, I thought OP was simply getting personalized SERP results, that's not the case here.

I'm in the USA on the east coast, I did a search for google india, then a search for facebook, & www.facebook-india.com is #1 in the SERPs, the real facebook is #2 in the SERPs (from Google India).

I did my search from a fresh Google Chrome Incognito browser with no search history/cache & not logged into anything.

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by yukon

I read this whole thread & the first thing I thought was like most others, I thought OP was simply getting personalized SERP results, that's not the case here.

I'm in the USA on the east coast, I did a search for google india, then a search for facebook, & Facebook Apps, Facebook Application Development, Facebook Developer is #1 in the SERPs, the real facebook is #2 in the SERPs (from Google India).

I did my search from a fresh Google Chrome Incognito browser with no search history/cache & not logged into anything.

Thanks for putting your weight behind my thread

I am wondering why it happened.

[royb20644]

Hey even I am able to see facebook.com ranking 2nd where else facebook-inida is ranking top.... Strange, maybe as google must be updating something over again

[UMS]

When I do a search on Google India, facebook.com is #1 and facebook-india is #2.

[paulgl]

LOL! Look at your sig...INDIA!

Then look at the original results you posted.

You have the friggin' evernote account showing!
Obviously, you are using some sort of a personalized
extension, add-on, whatever that knows your history
on the web.

You are even getting India news item in the search!

You are obviously in India. That alone makes all the
difference in the world.

Don't tell me you are not logged in, looking for apps, etc.


That is from chrome, not logged in, even they know I am in the LA area.

I could care less what I get from google India. I'm not in India.

I mean come on. If you go to google.jp, search for yahoo, I'm sure
yahoo.co.jp comes up first. Go figure.
Who knows, maybe facebook-india.com is a friggin
popular site in India and what google thinks most people in India want.

Sorry, I don't get that result either logged in or not logged in.

Paul

[MikeFriedman]

Originally Posted by yukon

I read this whole thread & the first thing I thought was like most others, I thought OP was simply getting personalized SERP results, that's not the case here.

I'm in the USA on the east coast, I did a search for google india, then a search for facebook, & Facebook Apps, Facebook Application Development, Facebook Developer is #1 in the SERPs, the real facebook is #2 in the SERPs (from Google India).

I did my search from a fresh Google Chrome Incognito browser with no search history/cache & not logged into anything.

I did the same as you, and I am also on the East Coast. I got Facebook as #1.

[SEOMasters]

They are #1 in India for Facebook.
Getting very close in finding out why.
Doing some research, so guess about 30 minutes and I know for sure, but bet that I found how and it's very very smart

[SEOMasters]

and now they are #2.
Funny, it changes and has nothing to do with personalized search. It has to do with data centers.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

I did the same as you, and I am also on the East Coast. I got Facebook as #1.

Lol, now I'm getting the same as you, Facebook is #1 & OPs site is #2.

Who knows...

I did the exact same search as before, I've also been running CCleaner before doing the searches, & Chrome Incognito, so I know this thread or any past browser history isn't changing anything I see in the SERPs.

Maybe were all looking at different server results, I don't know.

BTW, the first search I did, Facebook wasn't showing any Google Sitelinks, now they are showing the Sitelinks.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by SEOMasters

and now they are #2.
Funny, it changes and has nothing to do with personalized search. It has to do with data centers.

That's what I'm thinking...

[SEOMasters]

Ok, I'm done with my research and think I have it nailed. Will test it on one of my sites and when it works, I will post it here.

[paulgl]

Just decided to go to google.co.jp and do a search for
facebook. Lo and behold, facebook-japan.com shows up
near the top. Facebook-india nowhere to be found.

Remarkable, isn't it? If I go to the beach today, I'm
sure the ocean will be quite wet.

Paul

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by paulgl

Just decided to go to google.co.jp and do a search for
facebook. Lo and behold, facebook-japan.com shows up
near the top. Facebook-india nowhere to be found.

Remarkable, isn't it? If I go to the beach today, I'm
sure the ocean will be quite wet.

Paul

Isn't it a common knowledge throughout the world that if someone searches for Facebook he is looking for facebook.com and not facebook-india.com, or facebook-japan.com? Shouldn't it be no-brainer for Google as well?

Don't you think it is unusual for Google to rank other pages above Facebook even when the term Facebook is used?

Don't you think it would be remarkable if you go the beach and find water hot and dry...wet is what you expect (read facebook.com in this context)

[TheFBGuy]

I thought the OP was confused with Google's personalized results but he is correct, facebook-india.com ranks number 1 in India... may switch places with Facebook for the number 1 spot from time to time but it's definitely ranking number 1.

This is certainly interesting...

P.S - I am in Canada.

[GuerrillaIM]

Everyone needs to get off Bikrams back. He is right!

That URL does show up as #1 in google.co.in and he does have a very interesting point.

Shame this thread got trolled as it could have been a very interesting discussion.

[FrankRumbauskas]

Originally Posted by IMdude123

yep in google.co.in it is result number 1. how did they do it?

Same here in Texas, USA. #1.

[Oranges]

Bikram is right. Facebook-India.com is showing at #1 when searched on Google.co.in. This is not personalized result. For those who are in the US and checking it, Try https://adwords.google.com/d/AdPrevi...__c=1000000000 select co.in as domain and for place type "India" and then select India country option. Then search for Facebook, it will show you Facebook-India.com at #1.

On the other side when you open that website, after a sec or two it will redirect to http://www.roars.in/

To OP, ROFL! Yep this is strange, and funny too.

[webworm]

In google the site we visited frequently are shown in top for the personal PC and browser.To obtain the result correctly open google.com/ncr . It will show the truth result.

[Ibcontact]

It's showing only in India (Google.co.in)...

[Backtrack Linkback]

Something else interesting to ad to this. other than a million confirmations and de-conformations

I looked at their stats on my firefox toolbar and the site is NOT new, which doesn't define how long it has been ranking for the term facebook.. but it does not have ANY traffic recorded according to compete, or seomoz... which is strange/interesting..

im pretty sure there are a lot of people in India that use facebook so it should still be getting significant traffic.

I have used this tool a few times for results that don't have a long standing history of traffic from a certain keyword, check this out

DropDay.com - Free expired domains traffic rank list

^^if you click it already has the facebook-india site in question queried for everybody

[lembone]

I'm saying. i just wan to know how they did also.. i have FOund that FaceBook holds a lot of power on 1 page of some niches. Find out, i need to know that Trick!

[raghav01]

I did the exact same search as before, I've also been running CCleaner before doing the searches, & Chrome Incognito, so I know this thread or any past browser history isn't changing anything I see in the SERPs.

[bikramksingh]

Thanks GuerrillaIM, FrankRumbauskas , Oranges, and rhagav01 for confirming the result, but the real question is how did it happen?

My friend who showed this to me feared some Google Ploy, then again he is a geek who see conspiracy in everything in the world. Google has human reviewers as well, can't they notice this absurdity? And I don't believe they are not commanded to keep a tab on Facebook. Seeing the huge base Google has in India (in Bangalore, Hydrabad, Gurgaon, Pune, etc.), I think they must have noticed this.

[bikramksingh]

Originally Posted by Backtrack Linkback

Something else interesting to ad to this. other than a million confirmations and de-conformations

I looked at their stats on my firefox toolbar and the site is NOT new, which doesn't define how long it has been ranking for the term facebook.. but it does not have ANY traffic recorded according to compete, or seomoz... which is strange/interesting..

im pretty sure there are a lot of people in India that use facebook so it should still be getting significant traffic.

I have used this tool a few times for results that don't have a long standing history of traffic from a certain keyword, check this out

DropDay.com - Free expired domains traffic rank list

^^if you click it already has the facebook-india site in question queried for everybody

I don't think that the above link gives accurate information about the traffic, not even a right guess. I have checked it for couple of websites and the result doesn't match with Google Analytics data

[rahul2020]

Originally Posted by bikramksingh

Isn't it a common knowledge throughout the world that if someone searches for Facebook he is looking for facebook.com and not facebook-india.com, or facebook-japan.com? Shouldn't it be no-brainer for Google as well?

Don't you think it is unusual for Google to rank other pages above Facebook even when the term Facebook is used?

Don't you think it would be remarkable if you go the beach and find water hot and dry...wet is what you expect (read facebook.com in this context)

I am also from india. I saw facebook on top.

In my view Google reduced EMD weight in SERP. This is why niche websites is getting down. Imagine if they remove emd weight fully. Quality of search results will be reduced.

[rahul2020]

This page actually ranking in India. Can you show me how to outrank main emd for local searches. This looks really profitable.

I guess this can give us motivation to outrank main domains.

[GetKane]

So what could of been an extremely interesting discussion turned into another pissing match... Pity, I liked where this is going.

That site is #1 for me too on google.co.in: America > Florida

You have to wonder if Google sees the word India in the domain and ties it to the .co.in as an EMD.

Almost like

Facebook-canada.com

Would be the same as

Facebook.ca

[remixindir]

very thanks

[nik0]

At first when I read this I thought that facebook-india was just the India Facebook. Now I visited the site and it's not owned by facebook at all. That really amazes me.

[owaisk]

same result for me

[gogisan123]

To me is also the same result.. I dont know...

[Opportunex]

Well, I'm in the UK and I can also confirm that Bikram is right. Interesting thread ruined by know-it-alls.