Sometimes, when I seek answers, I consult the internet. We all have. There's the perception that online searches are convenient because the entire world, and all its information, is available at the "tips of our fingers" and at the "click of a mouse". But it isn't always. There are three search results that I typically see which are ultimately of no help whatsoever and I wish would just go away.
Worst search result # 1 - Links with links
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| At least this 404 Error page is funny found on www.501st.com/ |
Look at it this way. Pretend you have a map but get lost anyway, so you ask for help. Instead of clarifying directions, the good Samaritan says: "maybe these will help" and hands you more maps. This is what it's like when you get a page of links. Oh, and it's even worse when the links on those pages just navigate me to a 404 Not Found Error. I might as well be given directions through the construction route where all the streets are closed.
Worst search result # 2 - Keywords are in the meta description but not on the linking page
WTF? Last summer I was hosting a barbeque and wanted to set up some fun water activities for my guests' kids. So I searched "outdoor water activities for kids 6 to 12". The immediate results yielded activities appropriate for beaches, pools or camps. Because none of those were applicable to my situation I had to eliminate those phrases. My new keyword search became: "outdoor water activities for kids 6 to 12 -beach -pool -camp". I saw a result with this meta description:
"Whether you're trying to get kids to burn off some steam, learn something new, or both, ... Fun Games for Children 7 to 12 · Fun Indoor Games for Kids 6 - 12 ... for Kids · Fun Outdoor Water Activities for Kids · Fun Outdoor Fall Activities for Kids ..."
Where's the content your meta
description said you had?
Awesome. I clicked on the link but I didn't see any water activities. HUH? In fact, I did a CTRL+F search to just find the word "water" anywhere on the page. Nothing. Why was I even routed here?!
Worst search result # 3 - Online forums
Online forums have absolutely got to be the worst thing ever. First of all, it's a lousy substitute for customer service. Secondly, no there is no secondly, that's it. Online forums are designed to be led by dissatisfied and frustrated customers in the hopes that their experiences will resolve the questions and concerns of their peers. What kind of asinine logic is this? It’s a case of the blind leading the blind. I am especially irritated when I click on: “Questions? Contact us here” and am navigated to an FAQ page. Yeah, FA-Q, too. Then after that, when I don’t find my particular situation, I click on: "Still can't find what you're looking for?" and I’m taken to the online forum.
Sample Online Forum Discussion
"The lock to my Suzuki SX4 is inoperable. I click the button on my key chain clicker and my door but it won't unlock. There is no key entry built on the hatch. Has anyone else had this experience? What was the cause of this issue and how was it fixed?"
- "Yeah I've got the same problem. No one's been able to help."
- "Had my mechanic look at it. Had to jerry-rig it to get it to work."
- "Something similar happened with my Dodge, but I hit a massive frost heave one day and it fixed itself."
- "*~*~*~*Subscribe to My YouTube Channel!*~*~*~*"
- "Have you tried to use the key entry on the hatch?"
Umm...none of these responses helped me. Clearly didn't help - so, why post the comment? I've yet to find an online forum that's truly a help. Like I said, they are the worst.
If search engines truly understood my search strategy they would omit these results altogether. But they don't, so I have to work around them. I find it ironic, though, that the more search engines are amended to make the online searches a more easy, convenient and user-friendly experience, the more frustrating the whole thing seems to become. What do you think?
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