Google Launches Local Search For India

Google has launched a local search engine for India: Google Local. The site is currently in beta, and at http://local.google.co.in/. At the same time, http://local.google.com directs to Google Maps. More later, I’m just going to give Google Local a go.

What Google Think about Server location, Cross-linking, and Web 2.0 technology?

There may be some questions in your mind about the effect of server location, cross-linking on search results and how to use advanced technologies such as Flash and/or JavaScript to improve the user experience in a search engine friendly manner. Here’s Google’s response on these questions.

Does location of server matter? I use a .com domain but my content is for customers in the UK.

In our understanding of web content, Google both the IP address and the top-level domain (e.g. .com, .co.uk). Because we attempt to serve geographically relevant content, we factor domains that have a regional significance. For example, ".co.uk " domains are likely very relevant for user queries originating from the UK. In the absence of a significant top-level domain, we often use the web server's IP address as an added hint in our understanding of content.

I have many different sites. Can I cross-link between them?

Before you begin cross-linking sites, consider the user's perspective and whether the crosslinks provide value. If the sites are related in business -- e.g., an auto manual site linking to an auto parts retail site, then it could make sense -- the links are organic and useful. Cross-linking between dozens or hundreds of sites, however, probably doesn't provide value, and I would not recommend it.

Greg: Like Shashi, this was also my first opportunity to speak at a conference as a Googler. It was refreshing to hear feedback from the people who use the software we work every day to perfect. The session also underscored the argument that we're just at the beginning of search and have a long way to go. I spoke on the subject of Web 2.0 technologies. It was clear that many people are intimidated by the challenges of building a Web 2.0 site with respect to search engines. We understand these concerns. You should expect see more feedback from us on this subject, both at conferences and through our blog.

Any special guidance for DHTML/AJAX/Flash documents?

It's important to make sure that content and navigation can be rendered/negotiated using only HTML. So long as the content and navigation are the same for search crawlers and end users, you're more than welcome to use advanced technologies such as Flash and/or Javascript to improve the user experience using a richer presentation. In "Best uses of Flash," we wrote in more detail about this, and are working on a post about AJAX technology.

Complete Transition of Google Analytics

Google Analytics Old interface will no longer be accessible as of July 18^th.

To day on July 18th, Google plans to remove the old version of Analytics in favor of new updated interface. On Official Google Analytics Blog, Google has been reminding its Analytics users that the end is nigh.
The new interface has everything the previous interface had and more. Here are just a few of the notable features:

Email and export reports: Schedule or send ad-hoc personalized report emails and export reports in PDF format.
Custom Dashboard: No more digging through reports. Put all the information you need on a custom dashboard and make it available to the people who need it within your organization.
Trend and Over-time Graph: Compare time periods and select date ranges without losing sight of long term trends.
Contextual help tips: Context sensitive Help and Conversion University tips are available from every report.

Official Google.org Blog

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google focused on major global problems like changing environment, human health and global poverty has launched a blog.

Till now there are three posts: introduction, a story from India posted by Irene Taylor Brodsky, founder of Vermilion Films. This story is about a paraplegic man she met while trying to shoot “Azhan”, an Islamic call to prayer. The third post A new meaning for spring cleaning is about the drinking water problem in developing countries.