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Be a Lab Rat conduct an Experiment, (No Lab Rats will be harmed in the process)
I need the help of some Lab Rats (I use that term endearingly) who use both FF and IE.
Here is the Lab exercise I’m getting different search results from Google depending on which browser I’m using.
Not just a little difference in some cases the difference is Page1 #1 in IE and Page 2 - 5 on FF for some search results.
Why would I be getting different results from different browsers? I know about hitting different datacenters. I don’t think this can account for the results I’m seeing.
To add to the puzzle, if I hit search again in FF I usually get a reordering of the results. In IE they stay the same.
Therefore, I would like anyone using both browsers to check your keyword placements in both IE and FF and see if you are getting similar, same, or different results.
Where is the Difference Search Engine or Browser
If the search is coming from the same place why the differences? Is Google displaying one thing for Microsoft and something else for FF? Or is there a difference in the way the browsers gather, store or display the search results?
If you want to kill even more time, run the same checks on Yahoo and MSN and see if you get the same results you get from Google. (Does anyone use something besides Google?)
Finally, am I just loosing it and need to shut down the computer, clear the buffers and find a hammock on an island surrounded by blue water, balmy breezes and . . .
Post Tags: Firefox , Google-Search-Results , IE , MSN Search Results , Yahoo Search Results
Stumble it!
20 responses so far ↓
1 GO Zone Jeremy (6 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:32 am
Just tried it for my KWs and sure enough…you are right…weird
2 Dave Smith (540 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:42 am
Jeremy,
Thanks for being the first to send back a lab results report. I’m glad to see you weren’t hurt in the process.
Also good to have more confirmation of what I’m observing.
3 Rick Belben (3 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I have seen a reordering of the results when using IE. Sometimes you can be in the results page and hit refresh and the order changes.
But when I check the results using IE and FF I see he same placement.
4 Anthony - Staten Island Real Estate Blog (3 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hi Dave,
I have noticed this here in new york. I believe it is part of a new algorithm to do with content freshness, and when Google senses the freshness. I think it specifically has to do with blogs. When i post on my blog, in a matter of minutes it ranks on the first page. Then after 4 hours it goes back to page 2. Now, i have heard speculation that through the Google toolbar, Google is checking individual activity for a particular keyword, and adjusting results thinking you may be overtly manipulating results, and checking them. However, that seems to be speculation.
5 Matt in Paradise Valley (3 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Dave,
You have my direct email, so contact me and let me know if you want me to run some specific searches for you.
I get the exact opposite of what you get… in EI6 I rank lower on a new KWP I’m working on, in FF I rank #2 w/no changes no matter how many times I hit the search button. yet, in IE6, I do see changes… drastic changes, when hitting the search button a second time.
BTW, I know you are, or will be, here. So, email me soon.
Matt Pellerin - Realtor
6 Scott (8 comments.) // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I ran a couple of my keywords and thought you were crazy. I then ran real estate blog lab and minnesota evictions and see what you are talking about.
The differences that I am getting are subtle and only after entry #5 on each search. Mostly they are just out of order.
I typed “difference in google search results in IE versus Firefox” (quotes added for clarification) into Google and got this interesting article: firefoxhttp://www.webmasterworld.com/forum30/33401.htm
7 Glenn in Naples (18 comments.) // Jun 23, 2008 at 7:33 am
Dave,
I am seeing static results using IE7, however, with FF the results on occassion do change very slightly. I think we need to do additional testing over a few days - after clearing the cache to determine a clear trend.
I have not tested SERP’s on Yahoo or MSN.
8 Steve Belt (15 comments.) // Jun 23, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Dave, just now IE and FF gave me identical results for “phoenix real estate”. I do not use the Google Toolbar in either of my browsers, so that may be part of the results that some others are seeing.
9 Glenn in Naples (18 comments.) // Jun 23, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Not trying to steal this from Dave, but, Steve your comment is interesting, because you are not using the Google Toolbar. Wonder if others testing are using the Google Toolbar?
10 Anthony - Staten Island Real Estate Blog (3 comments.) // Jun 23, 2008 at 4:34 pm
It looks like there maybe something more than speculation with the tool bar. The interesting part of the downloading of the Google toolbar is, there is a disclosure pop-up just before you download about allowing them to monitor your online activity. I will tell you this, it needs warrants further exploring.
11 John Allen - Sarasota Florida (1 comments.) // Jun 24, 2008 at 11:06 am
I tried FF & IE and got almost identical results on several searches. Different datacenters may account for the slight differences.
Make sure you use the same capitalization in you searches on FF & IE. I’ve found some sites drop as many as 12 spots when I capitalize the first letter of the city. Strange, because Google says this should not matter.
http://searchengineland.com/080620-081736.php
12 Justin - Honolulu real estate (10 comments.) // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Could the difference in the search results be attributed to the Google dance you mentioned in your last post?
13 Dave Smith (540 comments.) // Jun 25, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Justin,
No it wouldn’t. My reasoning there, the results are consistently different in each browser. They should sometimes exchange or be the same if it were just a difference in algo or data centers
14 Adam (8 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:02 pm
It’s possible this may be related to Google’s personalization algorithm. Google notices which sites you visit most often and will slightly adjust its results to fit your tastes. I’m not sure if they are keeping track of your searches by associating them with your IP address or if they are using a cookie in your browser. If they’re using a cookie, it’d be a good explanation on why your results between browsers are different, because your browsers would have different cookies.
15 Dave Smith (540 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:06 pm
@Adam - In this case I don’t think that is the issue. I’ve tried this on multiple computers at different IP addresses.
And the results as as different as on page 1 on IE 7 and page 5 in FF. That’s a huge swing, not just a few places.
I haven’t tested this in FF3 or Flock to IE yet. But I am hearing from others seeing the same kinds of differences between browsers.
16 Adam (8 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Dave - see this page:
http://www.poynter.org/dg.lts/id.32/aid.66005/column.htm
17 Dave Smith (540 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:15 pm
@Adam - Interesting. But it looks like it is a sign-up service not something Google does without you turning on the service.
It also doesn’t explain how the results are consistent across various computers at different locations and getting the same page 1 in IE and page 5 in FF.
I’ve suspected for some time there was some tailoring going on in search results. My first clue came over a year ago when deleting all the temp internet files and cookies. All the search results changes slightly. Hum : )
18 Justin in Oahu (10 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 1:09 pm
@Adam - I see what you are saying about Google services. The search results in one of my broker’s computers is different than on my computer, same browser, same operating system. It’s because he is logged into his Google account and it’s giving preference to links he’s clicked on before. One he signs out, the results look the same as my computer.
19 Dave Smith (540 comments.) // Jul 1, 2008 at 1:17 pm
@Justin in Oahu - That is a very interesting observation. I’m logged into my Google account all the time.
Gmail and webmaster tools etc. Now I have to log out and see what happens. But, as I’ve mentioned before when I tried this on different computers I wasn’t logged into my G account.
20 Glenn in Naples (18 comments.) // Jul 3, 2008 at 4:55 am
Has anyone pinged to see which google data center is reporting the results when you have tested in IE or FF?
There is a way to do it, but I honestly forgot the method.
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