Brand Names in Google’s Natural Search Results in Various Countries and Languages
Monday, March 16th, 2009Aaron Wall of SEO Book fame, wrote a post on how Google’s search results now favor Brand Names. One example was that 4 airlines are now ranking for airline tickets which did not rank before.
We did a quick check for brand names using the keyword airline ticket in different languages and countries:
A quick check in French with “billet d’avion” we can see that Air France holds 4th place in natural search. But there are no other brand names on the first page.
Google France search results for billet d’avion. Click to enlarge.
A search for “pasaje aéreo” in Google Spain yields no brand names in the top 10 organic search results.
Google Spain search results for pasaje aéreo. Click to enlarge.
In Hebrew we see that there are no airlines in the top 10 results-they have plenty of ads though.
Google Israel Hebrew search results for כרטיסי טיסה. Click to enlarge.
An English search in Israel has different results but still no airlines except for the sponsored result at the top.
Google Israel English search results for airline ticket. Click to enlarge.
France is the only country that ranked a single brand name in the top 10 search results, Air France. However no other local airlines were found, so maybe this is a process of localization.
Let’s try for brand names with the keyword boots:
In France we see that the top organic results are mainly online boot shops that sell a variety of brands as well as political articles. No brand name websites.
Google France natural search results for bottes. Click to enlarge.
In Spain the 5th and 6th natural search results for the word botas are brand names.
Google Spain natural search results for botas. Click to enlarge.
A Hebrew search shows no brand names in the first 10 search results. There is a store where you can buy a variety of brand named leather shoes.
Google Israel Hebrew search results for מגפיים. Click to enlarge.
An English search in Israel has very different results with many results for Boots, the UK Pharmacy.
Google Israel English search results for boots. Click to enlarge.
Based on this test, it appears that Google’s foreign language sites, give little to no priority for brand name websites. Brand name web sites will just have to do SEO work like everyone else.
