Security Alert from Google Website Optimizer

A potential security risk has been addressed by Google, and they caution that there is an ability for a hacker to execute malicious code on your site using XSS (cross site scripting) within the Website Optimizer Script. The attack's are a low probability, but Google does advise that you take necessary precautions to protect your website.

The bug itself has been fixed, therefore they will not affect any new experiments. However, experiments that are currently running need to be updated. If you have any Website Optimizer scripts paused or stopped that were created before December 3, 2010, you need to update that code or remove it.

Updating the Code:

(Choose One of two ways)

1. Stop current experiments, remove old scripts, and create a new experiment.
2. Update the code on your site directly.

Creating a new experiment is essentially the easier option. More information can be found at this blog as far as specific html coding to update.

via Google Website Optimizer Team

Google Instant vs. Regular Google

Do searchers like being interrupted by the new "instant" results, or prefer to finish their query in peace?
Google says not only is Google Instant the future of search, it also is a search prediction tool--meaning they know what you want to find before you even finish asking. Ideally, this is supposed to save you (the searcher) countless hours of finding what you are looking for. Some people really like this, claiming Google is like a crystal ball, knowing what they want and taking them straight to it rather than scrolling through pages of possibly unrelated sites.
However, some people actually have openly tweeted their hate for the feature, due to the fact that is a distraction from what you really want to find. As an example, I went to Google and typed in "blue." My number one result? Blue Martini. As in the lounge. Maybe I wanted to look at blue couches? You see, now I could be distracted into viewing a menu rather than furniture.
The anti-Instant crowd seems to be the minority though, according to this survey that Mashable conducted a few weeks ago.
What do you prefer? Google Instant or searching the good, old-fashioned way?

Into the Minds of Web Searchers

According to a research brief from the Center for Media Research, people searching on the Internet will modify and re-word their searches until they get what they really want. It basically breaks down like this: 89% modify their searches if the first go-round doesn't produce the results they had in mind, 79% will leave the search engine all together and try elsewhere, and about 50% will click on a result if it has a picture or the brand appears multiple times on the results page.
As no surprise, Google comes in as primary engine for 75% of users. Additionally, it seems people first embarking on the road of search choose to use Yahoo.
Some more highlights:
-1 of every 5 users is more likely to click a sponsored advertisement
-Google users are more faithful to their engine than users of Yahoo and Bing
-More than 75% of searchers use it to learn more about a product after seeing it first somewhere else
Read the full article and see the statistic breakdown here.

GoogleDaddy?

I just read an article by Andy Beal where he announces a deal between Google and GoDaddy. I find this very cool because I was always concerned if hosting with a low cost provider was in any way frowned upon by a Search Engine. In the case Google is embracing GoDaddy's content. The deal should further the acceptance of Google's Webmaster Tools and Analytics.