WEEKLY WHEATIES #2440
Googling, Meta, Amazon, YouTube, Google Graveyard
In this newsletter:
📝 Post: Mastering the Art of Speaking Google
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Meta AR and VR
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Amazon’s RTO
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: YouTube Hype
😎 Pick of the Week: Killed by Google
📦 Featured Product: Cell Phone Booster
📝 Mastering the Art of Speaking Google
Whether we’ve wanted to or not, we’ve all used either Google or Bing’s search engine. I’m sure if you’re reading this, you either on a phone or computer of some sort. That device either uses hardware or software from Alphabet, Microsoft, or Apple. Alphabet is the major company behind Google (which kind of also includes Android for the purposes I’m discussing), Microsoft and Windows are behind Bing, and Apple’s Siri or web browsers use one or the other depending.
As a millennial, I grew up learning how to speak Google. It’s not necessarily a language that may make sense, but there’s one important distinction. When using search, you’re talking to a computer that has a very specific scenarios it must follow. It likes you to use statement and rules. As I move forward in this post, I will use the word Google when referring to all search engines. In general, they have the same search rules, but note, they may be different. And a side note - I pretty much strictly use Bing, but believe Google has earned the right for us to use the term Google as a noun and a verb.
When Google first started out, search was simple. One-word searches could be utilized because the web was fairly small. As the world wide web has grown, so has search features. The Verge wrote a very in-depth article titled How Google perfected the web that covers this topic way more than I will, if you’re interested.
For the sake of this post, let’s just stick with the basics. When a user types in a word or phrase into Google, results may typically be the same for anyone within a certain radius. However, that same search term may yield different results across the US. This is okay, because Google works based on demographics - for better or worse. The more they know about you, the better results you should receiving - all else being equal. Location is a main factor here, but so can age, sex, hobbies, and more.
When a search hits Google’s servers, they are running a bunch of algorithms on the backend. There’s a bunch of metrics they look at, but a big one includes what I’ll call the democratic rule. Meaning, if 100 people enter the same exact search term(s), regardless of the order of the results, the site that is - in essence - the last site visited, becomes the most valued site and will then be moved to the top of the list. Ultimately, they ask themselves a simple question: What site has the best chance of showing the result the user is asking for? Which also includes demographic information as discussed.
There are a couple of caveats here. First, the algorithms and rules can and do change. Second, paid advertisements go against many of the rules here. No getting around that. Companies can pay a set fee to have their ad shown based on simple search terms. Lastly, the result at the top of the list may not always show factual or correct information, it is just the one the most people landed on. This could very well be for reasons outside of it being “the best” result, but as far as the masses agree, that’s what it is. The most frequently visited sites are what show up.
As users have moved to using short phrases or questions in Google, inputting the right text or qualifiers become increasingly more useful. AI use more natural language (the normal way humans talk), but search engines typically work better by speaking the “Google” language.
First off, it’s best if you start your search with the most specific thing you can, and then go broad. I’ll use the Google Trends website for an example. Something happening this weekend is trending - The President’s Cup. If you wanted information on this, you may start off with: “golf president’s cup 2024 round 2 scores.” This would provide much more nuanced results than if you only searched, “president’s cup.” Although you may still find the answer you’re looking for, it may not be as high in the search results.
Since Google has rules the search engine must follow, we can use them to our advantage and have our results show exactly what we’re looking for. A company that helps web designers grow their traffic, Ahrefs, shared a list of Google Search Operators to help pare down your results. A few of my favorites to use are included below
Use quotes to search a specific phrase:
“search phrase”
Search a specific site:
site:gwheat.substack.com “search phrase”
Find a specific file type:
filetype:pdf “search phrase”
Search based on dates:
“search phrase” [before/after]:2024-01-30
Something else to note is that results may be manipulated. This isn’t always done intentionally, it’s just how things work out. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a huge area of the web and a lot of time and money is put here. There are tons of jobs and businesses that thrive simply by helping others optimize their SEO - which in turns helps with traffic. Without getting too in depth with SEO, just know that this term has meaning in standard search results and web designers can plan around, and benefit from, their sites utilizing terms that may be included in search algorithms. Blog posts are a big help with SEO, too, so you’ve probably seen a lot of sites blogging more consistently recently.
On the other hand, Google now can now link directly to The Internet Archives after partnering up to provide historical context to some search results. Google indexes websites, allowing them to be ranked in search results, and now they can link to an older version of the same site should it provide better results. Google should tread lightly with their buy outs and partnerships though. The US Justice Department is considering a bid to break up Alphabet Inc.’s Google due to Antitrust issues.
Since some search engines may be switching to a more Generative AI style of searching and results, consider how you may prompt the AI when “searching.” This is completely different than a standard search engine, and I’ve written a bit about this in Weekly Wheaties #2411. As much as they interact with each other, they still function differently, and each have their pros and cons.
Generally speaking, there are a few times when you would want to use a search engine as opposed to an AI chatbot type of search. AI typically works best when you have more complex questions, have very specific to include in the instructions, or need to have a back and forth type of conversation. Standard search engines work best when you’re looking for factual or specific information, need to search a certain site, or want to verify your results are as up to date as possible.
What other search tips can you share?
🗞️ ICYMI: Meta AR and VR
At Meta Connect 2024, two new devices were announced, along with one still in the R&D phase. The Ray Ban Meta glasses are sunglasses that can record video and play audio. There’s a lot more that goes into that, but essentially, this also includes an audio assistant, along with the ability to livestream, make phone calls, translate signs, and more.
The Meta Quest has two new offerings to join the full lineup. These are full headsets that involve a bit more than just glasses. They provide both Virtual Reality (VR), and mixed reality - allowing games, apps, and other softwares to act as if it interacts in the real world. They can also allow the user to appear to be in a foreign location, interact in video games using external controllers, and much more. Prices start as low as $299 for the newer Meta Quest 3S.
Also announced at Meta Connect is an unreleased product called Orion. This is a set of holographic glasses providing industry first Augmented Reality through normal glasses. AR is similar to mixed reality, but these glasses don’t impede your vision and peripherals like the Meta Quest headsets do. They also appear ‘normal’ in comparison. AI is also deeply embedded in these, including an EMG wristband to help out with controls. Mark Zuckerberg appeared on two popular podcasts this week to help discuss the future of this product and the services offered. Cloe Abram’s interview discusses The Future Mark Zuckerberg Is Trying To Build, while The Verge helps explain Why Mark Zuckerberg thinks AR glasses will replace your phone.
🗞️ ICYMI: Amazon’s RTO
Less than a week after Amazon’s CEO announced they will return to being in the office the way we were before the pandemic, a poll shows 91% of employees were unhappy, while 75% want to jump ship. Working from home appears to be a standard in tech jobs, so not only may Amazon lose some employees if they stick to coming back to the office, but they may also have trouble filling those gaps. There are reports stating tech jobs with Return to Office (RTO) policies are not receiving the same number of applicants in a similar field.
🗞️ ICYMI: YouTube Hype
If you frequent YouTube, prepare for a change that may show you more less-known creators. Those channels with less than 500,000 subscribers will be given more of a chance to shine on the platform driven by user votes. The new YouTube Hype feature will show the top 100 videos as rated by the YouTube community. All users will have 3 ‘Hype Votes’ each week to show videos the masses think deserve some spotlight. Users may also buy Hypes, so let’s hope that doesn’t take over most of the votes.
😎 POTW: Killed by Google
With a company as big as Google, they’ve created, worked on, and acquired tons of companies or products over the years. Most of their products can be divided into 3 categories: apps, services, and hardware. The website Killed by Google shows 296 of these products that are no longer available. Many of these you’ve probably heard of, including Chromecast, Google Play Music, and the Google Toolbar, but also include very niche products you may haven’t, like Loon and Google Compare.
📦 Featured Product
If your home has a metal roof, or poor cell phone signal due to other interference, consider purchasing this Cell Phone Booster. It does exactly what it says and boosts your signal inside your house. There are a few caveats to consider: you must already have a decent signal outside of your home, and it also requires power. It may increase your signal, but it can’t boost what’s not there. Another perk is this may work better than Wi-Fi (if you currently use Wi-Fi calling), and will work without internet access, too.
