Google to Partner with Wikipedia?

[rustybrick]

Check out this find by Oilman http://www.oilman.ca/google/googlepedia/

So far in our limited research we’ve found that ‘information’ and ‘info’ searches seem to trigger Wikipedia entries at #1.

Is this Good or Bad ?

[rustybrick]

I actually see it now http://www.google.com/search?q=driving%20information

[dazzlindonna]

I feel like I should say No, because that seems to be the SEO kind of thing to say. However, from a user's point of view, I actually like it. I often go straight to wikipedia when I need information about what something is. So this would be a natural for me. I realize that it takes away from all of our beloved sites, so the SEO in me cringes at the idea, but I honestly like it from a user standpoint.

[jewboy]

does the query need to have "information" or "info" in it to trigger a wikipedia result on the top of the SERP?

[Dan]

Like DD says I like it from a users perspective. Though I have a few issues:

Wiki is not accurate and open to abuse.
Its unlikely to be anywhere close to definitive (most sites on the topic will probably contain more indepth info)

[pk_synths]

Wiki is not accurate and open to abuse.

According to a recent study Wiki is equally accurate as Encyclopedia Britanica.

Its unlikely to be anywhere close to definitive

That's why other sites are listed below the Wiki. It's not like Google is replacing the entire SERP with a Wiki article.

Having said that I still dont like what it'll do to my traffic but it's convenient from a usability percpective.

[EGOL]

Of all the competitors in my space, there is not a one that I worry about more than Wikipedia. Anybody who can hold them off long term either has powerful mojo or voodoo working in their favor. I don't believe in voodoo so I better start working extra hard.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by EGOL

Of all the competitors in my space, there is not a one that I worry about more than Wikipedia.

Any genuine longterm ideas on how to deal with it ?

Fight fire with fire ? ...build niche wikis perhaps ?

[gabs]

I don't know but content vs information is the key in my mind.. Us seo generally give content not info.. and the content comes at a commerical cost to the user..

google is about giving info but yeh its a fine line between info vs content just imho

[seo-ireland]

It's great for users and I'm one of them so it's a thumbs up.