Anything But Coffee

It looks like Google has been pretty busy with updates this this month. In addition to their announcement of a Panda 3.3 update, they have implemented 40 additional changes to their search algorithm.

Some of the more interesting ones would be:

• Panda update. This launch refreshes data in the Panda system, making it more accurate and more sensitive to recent changes on the web.
• Link evaluation. We often use characteristics of links to help us figure out the topic of a linked page. We have changed the way in which we evaluate links; in particular, we are turning off a method of link analysis that we used for several years. We often rearchitect or turn off parts of our scoring in order to keep our system maintainable, clean and understandable.
• Improved local results. We launched a new system to find results from a user’s city more reliably. Now we’re better able to detect when both queries and documents are local to the user.
• “Site:” query update [launch codename “Semicolon”, project codename “Dice”] This change improves the ranking for queries using the “site:” operator by increasing the diversity of results.
• More accurate detection of official pages. [launch codename “WRE”] We’ve made an adjustment to how we detect official pages to make more accurate identifications. The result is that many pages that were previously misidentified as official will no longer be.

Randy Home, SEO Google, Google update, Panda 3.3 Google Algorithm update, Search Update

While surfing through my Facebook News Feed a few moments ago, a friend posted an image that caught my eye. I click on the picture expecting to see the usual top down photo display layout with the image up top and all comments listed below.

To my surprise I see a possible new photo display layout being tested by Facebook. A more left to right design with the image to the left and the comments scrolling on the right. I tested this out on a couple other photos in my Facebook News Feed and had the same results which leads me to believe this is either a slow release into the wild, a selected test or one of the typical “accidental releases” that Facebook has had in the past.

Below are two screen shots I was able to grab. The faces and names have been blacked out for obvious reasons.

Randy Home facebook, Facebook Photo Display, Facebook Test

Mattress stores across the country have been lying to us for years. We’ve all heard the commercial, “we’ll beat anyone’s price or your mattress is freeeeee”.

As annoying as that commercial is, it’s about to get a little bit more annoying after I let you in on a little dirty secret that retail mattress stores don’t want you to know. Your mattress will never be free.

Yes I can hear you now, you’re sitting there saying “but the commercial has been saying for years they will give you your mattress for free if you find the same mattress cheaper somewhere else.

Well let me tell you, I’ve worked in the mattress industry as well as Internet Marketing and as is too often the case its all in the fine print.

Why Your Mattress Will Never be Free

Although all mattress stores sell the same style of mattress, even from the same manufacturer like Simmons, or Sealy; none of the mattresses that you will find will have the same model name. And that is the fine print, that my friends is where they get you.

You see, all brand name mattress companies like Sealy, Simmons, Serta, Stearns & Foster and so on all offer their mattresses to competing retail mattress stores and discount mattress stores. But to make it fair and for the stores to be able to exist in a competitive market they are all given names specifically for that mattress store chain.

For example the same queen size mattress from Sealy might be sold to three different stores but store one will call it “sleepytime”, the next will call it “dreamtime” and the third would call it “sleepeasy”.

All these mattresses are the same, same spring count, same memory foam thickness, same construction, just the name is different.

But because each name is different, then technically they are not the same mattress. Since they are not the same mattress, then no other mattress store will be able to beat the other stores prices. And that is where they get you.

So what are you supposed to do?

When it comes to finding the best deal on mattresses, don’t listen to the commercials. Visit different stores, including discount mattress stores and test out the beds.

Lay on them for at least 15 min and see which feels most comfortable to you. Then speak with the salesman and ask about the construction of the mattress. What type of spring system is in it and the thickness of the memory foam or latex that is used. Then go to other mattress stores and look for the equivalent and compare prices.

You won’t be able to find the same mattress name but you will be able to find the same mattress and hopefully find the best price around.

Randy Home Discount Mattress Stores, Mattress, Mattress Stores, Mattresses, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Stearns & Foster