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Google check mark and question mark

by AlphaWarrior
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
On Google search results, I just noticed that next to each result they have either a check mark or question mark.

Do these marks say it is a good or questionable site?
Do these indicate good or bad SEO?
Do they affect SEO?
How do you change a question mark to a check?

Thanks.
#check #google #mark #question
  • Profile picture of the author Sig Kappel
    Hmm.. All I see is the Promote and Remove buttons..
    Perhaps my settings are different from yours..
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      I can only assume you are using a 3rd party safe search add on from
      something like AVG, Avast, etc.

      I have AVG and get a green check when the site is "safe,"
      and a red question mark when they don't know.

      I can't say I would 100% trust either one, but it may help
      prevent you going to a virus-laden website.

      I have seen some of my searches come up blank for either
      geeen or red.

      You would not want to change red to green unless you owned
      the site in question.

      Paul
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      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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      • Profile picture of the author dburk
        Hi AlphaWarror,

        Paul is spot on, what you are seeing is anti-virus plugin for your browser that annotates your search result page to indicate unsafe pages. It's got nothing to do with SEO and no one else sees what you are seeing unless they have the same plugin.
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        • Profile picture of the author AlphaWarrior
          Thanks for the comments. Actually my site is one of the ones that show a question mark. It is a static site built from the ground up in html. It does not have any virus or malicious code. Can I do anything to change the question mark to a check mark?
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          • Profile picture of the author paulgl
            Well, the question mark does not mean it has a virus.
            It's just that whatever you have for your safe search is
            not familiar with it and can't make a judgment.

            Get some good backlinks and it should turn green.

            I would not worry about it.

            Reason: It still shows in google's results, so google has not
            banned it, and, most people do not have the safe search icons.
            (I'm just guessing most don't)

            Paul
            Signature

            If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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  • Profile picture of the author khtm
    I've seen that before too, but for some reason not now. Hmmmm...very interesting...would also like to know what's up.
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  • Profile picture of the author khtm
    Ahhh found it...

    It's Google's "SearchWiki" functionality -

    SearchWiki : Features - Web Search Help
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