Google to Start Sharing Space?

Michael Garrity — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:17:00 GMT

In an effort to make Google more transparent when presenting specialized, or “vertical,” search results, at least in Europe.

The European Commission is about to rule on a two-year-long investigation into the search giant’s practices, and they’re expected to make Google change the way it presents results to improve visibility for other specialized search engines. In other words, Google has to start sharing space with its competitors.

Primarily, the EC is concerned about specific, specialized search results like maps, weather and finance, as it suspects Google of giving results from its own services and widgets priority over its competitors. It is expected that the ruling will force the company to present “clearer alternatives” and label its own services more clearly, so that users know what they’re looking at.

During this time, the EC had been investigating Google to see if it had been linking differently to its own vertical services and giving them preferential treatment. There was also some concern that the company was copying content, like reviews, from alternative services and putting it in its own results.

Google is expected to turn in its final concession offer this week to try to hold off formal charges and a substantial fine.

TheFind Debuts Merchant Center

Pete Prestipino — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:01:00 GMT

Vertical shopping search engine TheFind formally announced the debut of its Merchant Center. Retailers are now able to provide information about their store to be included within the site's search results.

Similar to Google or Bing’s Webmaster Tools, but specifically designed for retailers, TheFind’s Merchant Center is a free service. Merchants can claim their online store by completing a store profile and placing a piece of code on their home page that verifies control and ownership. Once their store is registered in TheFind Merchant Center, retailers can use the tools provided to improve the presentation of their information within TheFind’s search results.

TheFind's Merchant Center plays well into its UpFront feature, which shares a merchant's key store information with shoppers in a single, uniform display. Information on UpFront includes information on the company, shopping and payment options, contact information, and access to a store owners Facebook, Twitter or blog. Certifications such as those provided by Verisign, Authorize.net, Mcafee and the Better Business Bureau are also displayed in UpFront.

According to Larisa Hall, TheFind’s VP of Marketing in charge of Merchant Services, “Even more features will become available in the Merchant Center this quarter to help retailers engage TheFind’s vibrant shopping community and drive additional qualified traffic to their sites during this critical upcoming holiday shopping season.”

'Net Features : vertical search

Google to Start Sharing Space?

TheFind Debuts Merchant Center