Google's Search Improvements
Google has launched a ton of search improvements lately that have SEOers either crying, crying foul (the usual "Google owes me a living" or some variation thereof), or crying out that they are still relevant (as they become less and less so, at least in the traditional meaning of the SEO term).
It reminds me of "The Tao of CTPM/Tao of SBI!/Why SEO Is Doomed," first published in 2004 (I think?)...http://www.sitesell.com/tao-of-ctpm.pdf
With personalized search, Google tracks everyone's search history for 6 months (logged in as a user or not). They make it tricky enough to opt out of the program that 99% won't. (I'm not sure if a mere cookie erase will do the trick or if the IP address also comes into play -- the tech details are not crystal clear.)
So, for example, if you are someone who tends to search on anguilla and have enjoyed anguilla-beaches.com (i.e., you chose it previously, you didn't bounce back right away, etc.), Google will likely bump other anguilla-beaches.com sites up a tad.
You can't SEO that, unless...
