Google Loves Blogs

Seven months ago I was a nobody. Now, thanks to some trivial ramblings powered by cool technology and Google’s attitude towards blogs, I’m apparently somebody. And I didn’t even have to send in 99 cents and a coupon from the back of a comic book.
Surprising though it may sound, I’m not the only Mike Gerhardt in the world. In the past, doing an online search on my name found me buried in the back pages, behind the classifieds — if at all. Virginia Law Professor Mike ruled the roost, what with all his comments in mainstream media on political, historical and social issues. But the professor has dropped off the radar these days, perhaps because he continues to talk to the Washington Post rather than starting a blog of his own. Big Wave Surfer Mike is a big name when it comes to Mike Gerhardt search results. And there’s a real estate agent who’s recently clawed his way to the number two spot. But sitting at the top of the pack these days is little ol’ me.
Huh? How did that happen?
It seems Google likes blogs. So now I’m a leading authority on the new Burton iPod jackets, second only to the actual Apple product page. And a search on “chopstick” reveals that only nine other sites have something more enlightening to say on the subject than my chopstick fiasco story. And as icing on the cake, mikemedia is the number one site listed for a search on “Google Live Query” (I had almost nothing original to say about the subject).
Is this good? I can’t help thinking that many of those who arrive at my site via those search results are a little disappointed. “Huh?! Where’s the real Real Sex?” they ask.
Joi Ito recently asked Google co-founder Larry Page about the high ranking of blog contents in Google search results:

Larry said he thought that blogs were getting higher rankings because they were becoming a more important part of the Internet and implied that he felt the high rankings were fair.

Good enough for me. And things always change. Some young punk is bound to try to knock me off my lofty perch at the top of the Mike Gs any day now. In the meantime, I’ll be working to make those search result visitors feel like they’re getting their click’s worth.