SEO Lesson 8 Keyword Optimizing Header Tags H1 – H6 on Each Webpage by Tidyrank
via YouTube
One of the concerns about algorithms is the way that certain information can be privileged over other information due to its position in search rankings, and the bias that can be introduced by only showing search engine users links to content that is similar to content they’ve previously looked at. This video shows some of the mechanisms behind how that happens.
SEO Lesson 7 Using keywords in the title of the webpage to improve your rankings and click through r
via YouTube
One of the concerns about algorithms is the way that certain information can be privileged over other information due to its position in search rankings, and the bias that can be introduced by only showing search engine users links to content that is similar to content they’ve previously looked at. This video shows some of the mechanisms behind how that happens.
How does Google’s Search Engine Algorithm Work?
A quick look at a digital representation of the virtual space that Google’s search engine algorithms create.
via YouTube
I really enjoyed this Nigel. It is really fascinating that people share very personal and (presumably) honest stories about themselves with total strangers, potentially numbering thousands. This balanced by those who are masking prior knowledge/experience for strategic purposes certainly makes an intriguing basis for research.
Clare
from Comments for Nigel’s EDC blog http://ift.tt/2mcGSiQ
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Adchoices from the advertiser's perspective https://t.co/jZl4UWDjOB #mscedc
— Nigel Painting (@nigelchpainting) March 6, 2017
A rather telling quote from the opening of this blogged article reads “The good news for advertisers is that [the Adchoices] icon is fairly small and unobtrusive; most consumers don’t even notice it.” However, the closing remarks are more positive from both a consumer and advertiser perspective. “I’d love to see Google go the extra mile and offer additional information to advertisers. Sharing information gleaned from muted ads could be a game changer for PPC advertisers. […] Analyzing the results from this would allow advertisers to understand whether their ads simply aren’t resonating with their audience, or if they are too repetitive. Armed with this information, they will know when they need to create fresh ads or adjust their ad delivery settings.” This feels like a good example of how analytics can be used to drive improvements, although it appears in this case that the data isn’t being made available to those who could make the best use of it.
Incidentally, in a moment of pure serendipity, while tweeting the above I noticed a link to follow my nephew’s partner on Twitter – algorithms in action!
Algorithmic cultures and how ad-retargetting ruined Christmas https://t.co/vIGza43JyL #mscedc
— Nigel Painting (@nigelchpainting) March 6, 2017
A great example of when ‘making visible the invisible’ isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Last week I was desperately short of time and I’m still catching up with some of the secondary readings and videos from the Community Cultures block, as well as trying to find some time to engage with my fellow student’s end of block artefacts.
My main take-out from last week was definitely an appreciation for how much can be gained from observing an online community from within and the similarities between this and participant observation in the the ‘real world’ where the “researcher engaged in participant observation tries to learn what life is like for an ‘insider’ while remaining, inevitably, an ‘outsider’.” (Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide).
I also spent some time thinking about my work role and the Learning Community I manage, how much I’m the instigator of the ‘cultural norms’ (Kozinets, R.V. 2010) that exist within its discussion forums, how many of these ‘norms’ I’ve created for my own convenience and how much of this is simply an attempt to lead by example.
I was relieved to receive some positive feedback from Jeremy on my ethnography write up, as I was concerned that some of it was wide of the mark in terms of the way it should be presented. Many description of ethnography call for ‘rich’ or ‘thick’ narrative; telling the story from arrival and first contact to becoming embedded in the community’s culture. With so little community to comment on this was always going to be a difficult task. However, I think the finished artefact ticks many of the boxes in this description of ‘How to do ethnography ‘Nursing Research Using Ethnography: Qualitative Designs and Methods in Nursing’
“An ethnographic report includes clear and thick description of research methodology, including of people who participated in the study and the experiences and processes observed during the study.” […] “The researchers prejudices and biases are also highlighted.”
References:
Mack, N. et al (2005) Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide, Family Health International
Kozinets, R. V. (2010) Chapter 2 ‘Understanding Culture Online’, Netnography: doing ethnographic research online.
De Chesnay, M (2015), Nursing Research Using Ethnography: Qualitative Designs and Methods in Nursing, Chapter 5, Springer Publishing Company, LLC