Universal Search, SEM Scholarship Finalists, & Fun Finds

Huzzah! Rejoice! Yay!

Andy Beal has made my entire day and possibly my entire week telling me that Google is adopting a "universal search model" that give users a more integrated searching experience. That means one search for everything. Huzzah!

From Google’s Press Release, which went straight into my Junk Mail folder and I didn’t find it until three hours later (sweet!):

"Beginning today, the company will incorporate information from a variety of previously separate sources – including videos, images, news, maps, books, and websites – into a single set of results. At first, universal search results may be subtle. Over time users will recognize additional types of content integrated into their search results as the company advances toward delivering a truly comprehensive search experience."

The amount of joy this news is bringing me confirms the fact that I am officially a geek. But I don’t care because I’m too busy being excited.

I very much heart the idea of being able to enter in my query and have Google provide me with all of the relevant information, not just relevant Web pages, but video, news, blogs, and more. For me, this has always been where search is going and I’m totally psyched that Google has found a way to give this to me.

As Andy notes, this will undoubtedly have an impact on search engine optimization. If you thought trying to get a site ranked in just ten available spots was difficult, wait until your ten spots are reduced to three or four. To be competitive, SEOs are going to have to optimize all forms of content, not just the traditional Web page. Aren’t you excited?

More Google Searchology News

There’s lots more news coming out of today’s Google Searchology event. TechCrunch has been doing a wonderful of job of liveblogging it and keeping track of all the announcements. Besides the launch of a universal search mode, Google has also announced more integration for Google Video, a new navigation bar for Universal Search, on-the-fly query translations, and Google Experimental, a place where users can go to experiment with Google’s latest ideas. Just when you think the other engines are catching up, Google goes ahead and kicks them in the face.

Are You An Upcoming SEO Hot Shot?

I don’t know, is your entry on this list? Andy Beal posted the five finalists for his 2nd SEM Scholarship. The lucky finalists will now go before Andy’s stellar, and frankly kind of scary, panel of judges before the winner is announced on Monday. So much excitement!
Fun Finds

I stalk Bruce. I wouldn’t have mentioned it but my stalking of him led me to this fun video interview he did during Ad:Tech San Francisco. It’s nice to know while I was watching my fingers bleed, Bruce was enjoying the limelight and being fawned over for being the rock star he is.

Kim and her obviously kickass daughter got me all choked up. Again. Seriously, I don’t know if I can handle the waterworks every time I go and read Kim’s blog. I finally had to tell her as much as I love her and her blog, make me cry again and we’re breaking up. :)

Lisa Barone is a writer, content marketer & VP of strategy at Overit Media. She's also a very active Twitterer, much to the dismay of the rest of the world.

See Lisa's author page for links to connect on social media.