If you need to search for something and want to find real-time information instead of bullshit ranked by search engine algorithms that are constantly gamed by the likes of yourself, then give Twitter search a go. Bing is cool and all, but I find myself going to Twitter’s search page and seeing what real-time information has been posted first.
It bugs me when looking up some search topic and finding 4 year old results sitting on top of the rankings simply because the PageRank say 37 sites linked back to it. There are far more relevant answers and information than a Google rank. I love finding information that I can use without using Google. And I don’t have to wade through listing like a Wikipedia, a You Tube post from 2007, an Amazon product or a lame Hubpage to get at it.
And the plus side it’s a damn site more fun to search through live Twitter results than Google. Also I’ve been exploring using the best buy lists from Buy.com, Amazon, eBay and the like and seeing what the buzz is on Twitter and building mini sites on those that have potential. The chatter can give you ideas for posts and use of secondary keywords. Who says social networks can’t make you some money? Yea, I know. A lot of Adsense strokers. I enjoy zigging while others zag, at my peril. Keeps things more interesting and entertaining.
Of course there is the problem with the spammers. For those folks that create huge follow lists they will spam their lists just like those folks with email. Notice in Amazon Associates where they have a “Share on Twitter” link builder. Pretty clever actually. But it’s easy to ignore those postings.
Of course, I like using Bing if I need to search an engine. Anything I can do to screw Google. I’m not a fan of their imminent domain.
Paradoxically I would sooner buy a Google phone before an iPhone. I prefer to screw Apple more.
8 responses so far ↓
Mr. GoTo // Dec 21, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I just ran some searches in Twitter for info that people coming to my site would be searching for in Google. The Twitter results were 100% useless. So it all depends on what you are looking for. I’m afraid that Twitter is for the short-attention span crowd with low net worth. Who wants them coming to your site? Not me.
Splork // Dec 22, 2009 at 9:40 am
It always depends on what you are looking for. Turn it around and try to find information on something you are looking for and see if you can find something worthwhile. I have no idea what you are pimping so maybe a Twitter search is useless in that regard. I have many sites that would be useless to try to promote on Twitter. But I’m building others that will take advantage of the topic’s buzz on Twitter.
Keep zigging while I zag. I’m always cool with that.
Jessie // Dec 22, 2009 at 9:41 am
I don’t want anything to do with Twitter either. I have done some searches there and the only time it helped was when FatCow was down and I verified that some other people’s sites were down. For niche searches though, Twitter is useless.
Splork // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:32 am
Twitter search may be useless for many topics. But what I would be willing to bet is that people are going to be using live search to find information. I would suggest that niche site pimps best figure out a way to monetize that shit. Google isn’t sitting around watching live search with disinterest nor is Bing. They are working with Twitter to monetize it. I would argue that we should too.
“Leading financial news magazine, Business Week, has reported that micro blogging giant Twitter will have a profitable year after the company signed two separate deals with Google Inc and Microsoft Corp which will allow Twitter tweets to be searched on their respective search engines.”
I find it interesting that niche builders hang on to the mantra that social traffic can’t make money. Maybe so, but there is a shitload of social traffic. I would argue that it might serve those in IM well if they learned how to monetize that huge flow of traffic. Seems like opportunity wasted ignoring the potential of Twitter, etc.
Sam // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hey, if you click on the show options when searching in google a few options pop up and you can use a timeline from searching within two weeks to the real time using the latest option.
Also noticed that google had a twitter widget within the search results showing all the the latest updates in real time.
Splork // Dec 22, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Hey Sam. Yea Google and Bing both have that option to get real time results from Twitter. It’s what made Twitter profitable this past year. But if you don’t like Twitter results then those results won’t be of use to you anyway.
You’ve been able to search recent results in Google and Bing for a while now. I just find the real time, like right now, more interesting. Perhaps not useful some times, but interesting.
Splork // Dec 22, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Wheeeeeee …..best Adsense day I’ve had in two weeks. Too funny. Love how consistent IM is.
James // Dec 28, 2009 at 8:20 am
The google search that led me here was:
“twitter results on google front page useless”
I was trying to see if everyone thought google’s decision to feature twitter results on the main page was a stupid one. I guess not.
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