Using Google Tools
Outside of the Google search engine, how familiar with you with some of the other applications Google has made available? The question is, are you using some of these Google tools to help reach business or personal goals? I am going to discuss a few of them today and hopefully you will begin adding some of these to your personal technology resource center.
Today’s Blog includes:
Google Page Rank
Goog 411
Google Documents
Blogging And Google Page Rank
With millions of people blogging, Google has developed a tool that allows you to determine a site’s relevancy according to the world’s leading search engine. It is called the Google Page Rank. Simply put, this tool helps you figure out how important the page is on the web, according to Google. Each web site or blog receives a rank from 0 through 10 and based on a pre-determined algorithm, this tool determines, what sites link to the blog and how influential the site is. Also there is emphasis on educational institutions (.edu based addresses) as well as news outlets and other independent reporting agencies. While companies have tried to game the system and figure out where Google puts its emphasis for a better rank, the company continues to change the exact formula and does not publish how to improve your score.
In an effort to show how Page Rank works, I visited Wikipedia looking for a diagram and this one was displayed.
My site, http://www.sportsinfo101.com, has currently reached a page rank of 3 of 10 since launching in January. In real time I would call it sine march since it took time to correctly upload new technology and make sure the links were correct. Three of 10 is pretty good and I have only seen this number improve.
American Marketing Association Orange County Chapter
Let’s take a quick organizational look at a few other web sites in comparison. Two trade groups, The Orange County American Marketing Association (AMA for OC) has a Google rank of 1 out of 10 while the OC PRSA chapter’s Google rank as of this morning is 4 of 10. These are institutional based organizations and I would expect them to be at a minimum of five on this scale. It shows you that a targeted web site like sportsinfo101.com can become significant in a short period of time. Other sites have started linking into mine including educational institutions (and I sincerely thank you all for your continued support of this site.).
Goog 411
As more and more people ditch their land lines and only use cell phones, has directly assistance gone the way of the yellow pages. I cannot remember the last time I even used the yellow pages. It must be stacked up next to my typerwriter and record player. The web has invented a new way for us to search for information phone numbers included. Google wants to make sure you never have to pay for directory assistance again and has an application called Goog 411.
Quick history lesson — In the old days, a call to 411 would get you a real person who would look up a phone number and maybe an address in your neighborhood. Eventually, the service became a voice activated machine which could provide you with a phone number for anywhere in the world and now, Goog 411.
Today, you no longer nee dto pay for directory assistance. Google claims it is totally free and eaasy to use. 1-800-Goog-411. You let the voice recording where you are and what you are looking for and it connects you, for free (other than cell phone time charges). Here is a video that showcases the service.
I tried the process once and it worked easily. The process allows Google to collect cell phone information for possible future use.
The last resource for today is called Google documents.
This easy tutorial breaks down the advantages of the resources.
Hope you learned about a few new resources that might make your communication skills easier.
Using Google tools can certainly make a difference
Have a terrific weekend.
