Why don't Wiki results appear in Google?

[rgrosz]

I have spent about 8 hours over the last week trying to set up a program to auto start. ](*,) Today, I FINALLY found the answer in the Wiki.

BUT ... the first place I always start looking for anything is Google. Then I went to various Linux forums and searched. Eventually I realized I had forgotten to check the Wiki.

BUT ... it would have been much easier if the Wiki results simply appeared in Google. Is there any reason that they don't? :confused:

[poofyhairguy]

I have spent about 8 hours over the last week trying to set up a program to auto start. ](*,) Today, I FINALLY found the answer in the Wiki.

BUT ... the first place I always start looking for anything is Google. Then I went to various Linux forums and searched. Eventually I realized I had forgotten to check the Wiki.

BUT ... it would have been much easier if the Wiki results simply appeared in Google. Is there any reason that they don't? :confused:


I have a theory I can't say.


Ok. I think it has to do with how Google ranks pages.

[rgrosz]

Yeah, I think I see what you're saying:

801,000 results from Google on "synergy software linux"
12,800 results from Google on "synergy software linux ubuntu"
523 results from Google on "synergy software linux ubuntu wiki"

But I did not find the result page within the Ubuntu Wiki:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SynergyHowto

Is it because this is a secure web site (https vs http)?

[aysiu]

You can search the wiki from Google by doing a search like this (http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=site%3Awiki.ubuntu.com+synergy&btnG=Search).

[rgrosz]

You can search the wiki from Google by doing a search like this.

Yes, you can do that. But the typical newbie (me) did a more generic search.

My point is that I wanted Google to bring up the wiki information in the generic searches, especially when I tried "synergy software linux ubuntu wiki". :eek:

[aysiu]

Yes, you can do that. But the typical newbie (me) did a more generic search.

My point is that I wanted Google to bring up the wiki information in the generic searches, especially when I tried "synergy software linux ubuntu wiki". :eek: Good point. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about improving Google results.

[dueyfinster]

They will improve their search over time, I have no doubt about it. In 2003 they add php operators to be searchable and it made a big impact on results, they got a lot better, google found more.

[gord]

google is a big ole computer, or pidgeons (http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html), depending on the day. it doesn't actually know what your looking for, just matches what you type as best it can to the data it has. i think its pritty amasing google comes up with anything relivent to what you type :)

[fishfork]

I've noticed this as well. Hopefully if enough people link to the Wiki, its GoogleRank will increase (hint, hint!)

[Moonbuzz]

I think it has to do with wiki pages being generated and not "static". It's a known problem with search engines, that can't collect information from generated pages. It's called "invisible web".

[fishfork]

I think it has to do with wiki pages being generated and not "static". It's a known problem with search engines, that can't collect information from generated pages. It's called "invisible web".
Really? How does Wikipedia do it then? It seems to appear at the top of all sorts of google searches.