Question about "similar pages"
 

I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how to use Google's "similar pages" information to better your placement?

If site B is listed as a "similar page" to site A, but not the other way with A listed as a similar page to B, what does this mean?

Also, if B is similar to A, does this mean that B should show up close to A in the serps? Or possibly does google not want too many similar sites showing up for the same search terms? It would seem obvious that the top 10 sites for a given term are all similar, but it doesn't appear to work that way.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any theories on this.

Okay . . . I can find the similar links for PimpsPromo at http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...pimpspromo.com - and if I wanted to, I could try and exchange links with those sites, but it really isn't relative when trying to optimize my site. Besides, most of those sites are going to be already linked to you, or you to them, although I see sites on the PimpsPromo results that I know I am not linked to, and I doubt they are linked to me. However, I know that we are both linked at a common site.

Time would be better spent trying to get relevant links.

So, in a nutshell, don't worry about "similar pages" - they really aren't worth the effort.

I would suggest you check out AdultSEM.com for tutorials and articles on how to better optimize your pages.

Thanks Baddog...that's not quite what I was getting at.

I'm pretty sure that "Similar pages" is not the same as backlinks/link trades.

I was just wondering if any of the seo's that frequent this board had ever found a use for the information that was provided in the "similar pages" area. I mean, there has to be a reason that Google provides this information. For any search term, the top 10 should be similar so the "similar pages" must be different than that.

If one could determine whether Google wants similar pages ranking next to each other for the appropriate search terms vs Google not wanting the similar pages ranking next to each other to prevent redundancy, it could help in controlling where your site shows up in the serps.

It just seems to me that this information could be useful.

Any thoughts anyone?

I am really not sure how to respond other than to say that I think you are looking for something that does not exist.

I am sure if you keep asking you might find someone to agree with your theory, but it does not make it right.

CaptainJSparrow - I think what you are asking is how does google come up with the similar sites?

Here's a link that explains the concept genarally

and

where it came from

Originally released as Google Scout back in 1999 it basically was a techic version of "lets look at this website and who links to it - now who else do those same sites link to" - and the similar sites concept was born. Basically Google looks at who links to you and who else they link to - to try to direct the surfer in his surfing.
Its not really magical or anything - just an attempt at trying to "group" web sites together :)

In answer to whether it's useful for trying to perform SEO - wouldnt know the answer - Im not into SEO'ing |jester|
But it sure is nice to see who my backlinks link to :) - of course just putting your sig with a site in it can cause that grouping effect :)

a check with some friends tells me that there is some theming going on in there as well - some kind of web-mapping where Google Scout tries to determine the "communities" on the web - could be good or bad I guess :)
Also - you might want to check some DMOZ listings and check where other "similar sites" are listed in DMOZ - seems to play into the picture

Thanks Linkster.