Market Search Fail

[ls377]

Went to download Google Docs, and searched "google docs". Had to scroll through AT LEAST 30 apps to find the official one.

IT'S A GOOGLE APP! ON GOOGLE'S MARKET!!

Seriously Google, you're a search company first. And a pretty damn good one. Why is it that YOUR app is buried under dozens of 3rd party solutions? I don't care if it's new, it should be the first one to come up.

/rant

 

[RUSH]

^^ I concur.

 

[bigk]

The same reason they VERY RARELY touch search results for they're primary service, google search.

Once they start modifying search results to benefit them or any other 3rd party, it's not going to sit well with the public. That's why google has a computerized algorithm.

They move their official app to the the top, pretty soon bob over here isn't going to be happy that is app was pushed down even though he has a 5 star rating.

All in all it comes down to principle. That is why the app isn't at the top, even though google has the power, and runs the market place.

 

[MacGuyInNC]

The same reason they VERY RARELY touch search results for they're primary service, google search.

Once they start modifying search results to benefit them or any other 3rd party, it's not going to sit well with the public. That's why google has a computerized algorithm.

They move their official app to the the top, pretty soon bob over here isn't going to be happy that is app was pushed down even though he has a 5 star rating.

All in all it comes down to principle. That is why the app isn't at the top, even though google has the power, and runs the market place.

Perhaps, but if there is an exact match, it SHOULD be the first listed. That just makes the most sense.

 

[kamtsa]

Perhaps, but if there is an exact match, it SHOULD be the first listed. That just makes the most sense.

Giving too high importance to exact match can backfire. For example if one searched for 'browser', a mediocre fart app called 'browser' may come before more popular and full featured browsers.

Judging search by one example may result in misleading conclusions. Its the aggregated results that count.

BTW, I see that GD now has >250K downloads and it in the second place so it works its seems to work its way through the algorithm ;-)

 

[FreudSlipped]

AppBrain does a bit of a better job. I put in 'Google Docs' and it came out first in the results. Just the word 'Google' brings a list of their apps to the top of the list. Google Docs was 9th in that search. Even AppBrain doesn't have a specific 'Developer' or 'Publisher' filter though.

Developers know that market searches are weighted toward keywords so, if you want your app showing up in people's searches, use popular app names in your description.