The fashion is to launch Web 2.0 services as beta. Wikia search goes one better and has launched as alpha. This new search engine follows the priciple of using the community to improve search results, as well as openly publishing the algorithms used. Currently the website states: “We are aware that the quality of the search results is low,” so don’t expect google-quality results yet.

We tried the system, and it’s really too early to say whether it will work or not. We’re concerned that, with the position in search results being so important, the system is simply going to be abused, with the best resourced companies able to rank their results highly and to tweak their site to get best results from the search algorithm.

Author

  • Mike Maynard

    In 2001 Mike acquired Napier with Suzy Kenyon. Since that time he has directed major PR and marketing programmes for a wide range of technology clients. He is actively involved in developing the PR and marketing industries, and is Chair of the PRCA B2B Group, and lectures in PR at Southampton Solent University. Mike offers a unique blend of technical and marketing expertise, and was awarded a Masters Degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Surrey and an MBA from Kingston University.

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