Am I the only one experiencing this Google SERP problem?

[UnderRugSwept]

I perform Google searches every single day, sometimes several times in a day. These searches have nothing to do with being a marketer--they're simply as a consumer, researcher, person who needs a question answered, or in other words: a typical person.

For about the past month or so, I have been unsuccessful at finding what I'm looking for on the first try EVERY SINGLE TIME. Yes, I mean it--every single time. I'm left either going all the way to the third page, clicking dozens of results and retuning to the SERPs, or having to start over with a differently worded query.

This is far too often to be a coincidence. Has this been happening to anymore else? I know there was a recent significant algorithm update, right? I always look at algorithm updates through the eyes of an SEO, but I'm currently looking at it through the eyes for an average searcher, and I'm frustrated! It's been like trying to find something on Bing!

[jesse-landry]

Interesting. No, I haven't had this problem that I've noticed. I'm curious though and I dig the concept. It sounds like a great movie pitch:

"In a world where everything was deemed spam, one woman sets out to find a decent book to read. She quickly finds out the unsettling truth... GOOGLE'S BROKEN"

post-apocalyptic movies are all the rage right now..

Seriously though, can you provide an example of a term you searched and what it gave you that you didn't want?

[UnderRugSwept]

Gosh, it's so many, but I think the common thread is Google returning shopping results when I'm looking for informative sites, and returning informative sites when I'm looking to buy.

You wouldn't believe the nightmare I went through last night trying to find a site about how to color my hair at home with Redken. I still haven't found anything except for a crappy result from eHow.

[MikeRoberts]

In personal searches I almost always go all the way to page 3 just to see what's there. I regularly find that odd gem which is more than perfect for what I intended even though it was not perfect for what I had typed.

[GregB123]

Just wanted to send some love to all those that go beyond page 1 

As the owner of a small ecommerce business who has been pushed off the first page by all the big box store (Sears, Walmart, Costco, etc) results, I'm always overjoyed to hear about those who have made it a habit to go beyond page 1.

Maybe there should be some sort of Go Beyond viral campaign like "Google Beyond page 1 for the good stuff!"  (pretty awkward, needs some work, where are all the bright copywriters?...)