'Search Engine Optimization' on Google SERPs - Winners & Losers Over time
Because SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION is one of the most professionally optimized terms, it is useful to analyze the changing serps to gain insight into Google's changing algos and ranking priorities, and what SEO tactics are working:
1- Compare the page 'frozen' from the beginning of the year-
http://www.freezepage.com/1173265083BAOMJYSUXM
2- Compare this interactive chart archiving the past six months-
http://www.rankpulse.com/search-engine-optimization?p0=on&p1=on&p2=on&p3=on&p4=on
3- Compare the latest SERPs as of today-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=search+engine+optimization
4- Compare this archive of sites added from the past three years/ organized by dates (90% accurate)
also interestingly, if the parameter '&btnG=Google+Search' is added, the serps are slightly different-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=search+engine+optimization&btnG=Google+Search
It does appear that two new main factors are now fueling Google's algos:
The first would be giving a priority to informational or reference sites,
the second would be factoring in how frequently new backlinks are added, and filtering out backlinks that their algos are red-flaging as paid links (which may factor into the TrustRank of a site).
These new modified algos that just went current a few hours ago, appear to attempt to filter out any SEO tactics, thereby allowing popular reference sites to gain rankings (generally, they are less likely to be seo'ed or to buy links)
