Google’s broadmatch: room for improvement?

June 28, 2007
by Latitude

How broad is broad? A recent episode suggests Google has turned the dial up to ‘irrelevant’ on its broadmatch system.

Recently, during a routine review of click activity, it was discovered that the search supremo had decided to match the word “provident” (def. having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future) with the word “xynagrowth” (def. penis enlargement pill of uncertain efficacy and origin).

In another incident it was found that the keyword term “Churchill Insurance” had been matched to “Stewart and Watson Property”. Look closely, and still you won’t find a match between even a pair of letters in each term.

Honest mistake? Or cynical attempt to prop up revenues in advance of second quarter earnings results? As Americans like to say, go figure!