Differences Between the Major Search Engines

[avishka]

Although the basic principle of operation of all search engines is the same, the minor differences between them lead to major changes in results relevancy. For different search engines different factors are important. There were times, when SEO experts joked that the algorithms of Yahoo! are intentionally made just the opposite of those of Google. While this might have a grain of truth, it is a matter a fact that the major search engines like different stuff and if you plan to conquer more than one of them, you need to optimize carefully.

There are many examples of the differences between search engines. For instance, for Yahoo! and MSN, on-page keyword factors are of primary importance, while for Google links are very, very important. Also, for Google sites are like wine – the older, the better, while Yahoo! generally has no expressed preference towards sites and domains with tradition (i.e. older ones). Thus you might need more time till your site gets mature to be admitted to the top in Google, than in Yahoo!.

[bingokeno]

Site maturity isn't much of a factor for google now though having such for your site does have definite advantage over time. Google tend to give a priority boost on sites that incorporates freshness and quality. In my opinion, this boost incorporates an a different set of algo that identify if the content posted is relevant, useful, and is linked to. The boost then become permanent once an update satisfies a criteria set.

Well, I can only speak for google and nothing much for yahoo. Google seems to be a lot more of a deal than any search engines though I know other search engines can still be used as an alternative to gaining free organic traffic over time.