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In the news: Google tells us more about its ranking algorithm, Yahoo closes its doors in Scandinavia, Lycos shuts down its community offers, Bill Gates feels that he was kicked in the butt and more.

Table of contents:

• Facts of the week
• Search engine news of the week
• Articles of the week
• Recommended resources
• Previous articles

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Google reveals more information about its ranking algorithm

A new section on the Google Labs web site offers an archive of publications by Google employees. The documents allow deep insights into many aspects of the Google's operation.

Search experiment? BBC buys up 'Hutton inquiry' Google links

"Just 48 hours before Lord Hutton delivers his verdict on the controversy surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly, the BBC has begun an advertising experiment that involves buying up all internet search terms relating to the inquiry.

Despite being one of the main players in the drama, anyone searching for 'Hutton inquiry' or 'Hutton report' on the UK's most popular search engine Google is automatically directed to a paid-for link to BBC Online's own news coverage of the inquiry.

No other news broadcaster or any newspaper has paid Google for this facility, leaving the corporation's move even more conspicuous."

Yahoo! calls it quits in Denmark

"The Internet bellwether is closing its Copenhagen, Denmark, office at the end of the month, and will effectively cease operating sites specific to Denmark, Norway and Sweden, a Yahoo! spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

The impending shutdown, which Yahoo! says will result in the layoffs of fewer than 15 full-time employees, was earlier reported by Agence France-Presse, which cited its own reporting as well as a bulletin from the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten."

Lycos to silence chatting

"Web portal Lycos plans to shutter its collection of community sites next month in an effort to streamline its business, according to a notice on its site.

Beginning Feb. 1, Lycos' community sites, such as chat, message boards, clubs and images, will close. All content, such as text and photos, will be deleted, the notice states."

Google's new social network service Orkut

"The Orkut site is the brainchild of Google engineer Orkut Buyukkokten and went live last week. It raised speculation that Google would enter the rapidly expanding social-networking space with the likes of Friendster Inc., LinkedIn Ltd. and Ryze Ltd."

MSN toolbar bops pop-ups, works search

"Microsoft Corp. [...] launched a beta version of its MSN Toolbar offering easier access to its services including e-mail and search, as well as a customizable pop-up ad blocker, on Monday.

The release marks MSN's entry into the toolbar space, already pioneered by its rivals both in the portal space and the search space."

Search engine newslets

• According to the WebmasterWorld forums, a new Google dance has started. This means that the Google rankings are going up and down for the next few weeks.
• Gigablast adds direct links to the Wayback Machine
• A new meta search engine has opened its doors.

2004; the year of Yahootomi!

"Unless you've been living in Saddam Hussein's last known address for the past month or so, then you may not be aware that Google is being ousted from Yahoo! And in its place comes Inktomi. Hence Yahootomi.

It may be a very subtle and seamless kind of transition for the average surfer. But for search marketers - it'll be about as subtle as a smack over the back of the head with a shovel if you're not expecting it."

Bill Gates: "Google kicked our butts"

"The list of organizations that have put Microsoft in its place is short indeed, but it has grown by one member, and at the behest of no less that William H. Gates himself. The market in question is Internet search engines, and the new member is none other than Google.com."

If you haven't done it yet, download your copy of ARELIS now. The new ARELIS version 4.3.1 features many improvements that make it even better than previous versions.

Click here to download the free ARELIS trial version.

• The ranking algorithms of the search engines in the near future
• The most innovative search engines in 2003
• Who works with whom in the US search engines market (update)
• Lycos Europe, Overture expand new deal
• Google launches book search service
• The importance of links on your web site
• View all past issues...