You may have noticed a new "Add to Preferred Sources" button near the bottom of most pages on my website. This is a new feature from Google that lets you tell Google Search that you trust Computer Learning Zone and would like to see more content from 599cd.com.
If you click the button, Google will add Computer Learning Zone to your personal list of preferred sources. When you search for topics that I've covered, Google may be more likely to show you relevant pages from my website. My content may also receive a "Preferred" label when it appears in Google Search, Top Stories, Google Discover, AI Overviews, or AI Mode.
This doesn't mean that Google will show you my pages when they aren't relevant, and it won't remove results from other websites. You're simply telling Google, "When Computer Learning Zone has something relevant to my search, I'd like to see it."
Does clicking the button help me? Yes, it does. It gives my existing followers a better chance of finding my articles, videos, lessons, and other material when searching Google. That can lead to more visibility, more repeat visitors, and more people clicking through to the website.
However, this is not a magic SEO button. Google doesn't say that it gives 599cd.com additional authority across the board or automatically improves my rankings for everyone. The direct benefit applies primarily to the Google account of the person who selects Computer Learning Zone as a preferred source.
Still, I have a wonderfully loyal audience, and collectively this can make a real difference. If you enjoy my lessons and want Google to show you more Computer Learning Zone results when they're relevant, please click the "Add to Preferred Sources" button at the bottom of the page.
You'll get a better chance of seeing the material you want, and you'll be helping more of my regular visitors stay connected with the site. Thank you for your support!
I'm not signed in to Google when I browse the web or use many of Google's services, such as YouTube, so I can't use this feature. These companies want tons of information from you now (from every aspect of your online activities), and I want some degree of autonomy. So I avoid signing in whenever I can.
P.S.:
I sign in only if I want Google to remember my info, such as my YouTube viewing history and preferences. And I only want specific info to be remembered. For instance, I sign in to my YouTube account when I view tech-related content, such as Richard's channel. When I watch videos of random topics, I don't sign in, and watch them as a "guest" whenever I can.
I feel where you're coming from, Kevin, because I used to think the same way. I used to think, "They're being creepy. They know too much about me." My wife and I would have a little conversation over Facebook Messenger about, "Oh, let's do this," or "Let's go there," and then I'd start seeing ads for it in different places, not just Facebook.
I've kind of changed my mindset about this though. I actually prefer personalized ads now. They're going to show me ads either way, so I'd rather see ads that are relevant to my interests than completely irrelevant ones. I'd rather see computer products or a new tablet than diapers that I'll never need again in my life - well, until I get super old, I guess. I was thinking kid diapers, but LOL.
If I want to search without them knowing who I am, I use an incognito browser window. I do that all the time when searching for a Microsoft Access specific keyword. That way, I get results that I don't think Google or YouTube are tailoring specifically for me. It helps me identify content gaps. For example, do I rank for DLookup or some other important search term? If not, maybe I need to make a video for it.
The really creepy part is that we have Alexa devices in several rooms. Sometimes my wife and I will casually mention something over coffee, without emailing or messaging about it at all, and then we start seeing ads related to it. I know Alexa has to listen for its wake word, but it's supposedly not listening to the rest of our conversations. I'm gonna call bullshit on that one. Just don't talk about anything you don't want them knowing.
Big Brother might be watching you... but Big Sister is definitely listening to you.
Kenneth A Thomas
@Reply 3 hours ago
Done!
Sam Domino
@Reply 3 hours ago
Done! I, for one, welcome our AI Overlords!
Kevin Yip
@Reply 3 hours ago
Richard When I see ads, especially those over 30 seconds, I just press the Mute button on my TV remote or my PC keyboard (which has dedicated Mute button). I wouldn't sign in just to see more relevant ads.
Many tech channels on YouTube only put sponsored ads that they know would interest their viewers within their videos. I wouldn't have to sign in to see those.
Ads are everywhere these days -- on our phones, our cars, our refrigerators, subways, clothing, etc. When I see ads, I try to mute, look away, put my hands over my ears and say "la la la...," anything to avoid seeing them.
When has an ad, any ad, ever helped us with anything? Have you bought a car or house because of an ad? Picked a college because of an ad?
I've never made any major life-size decisions from an ad, like buying a house or a car. But I have made plenty of small purchases because I saw something cool in an ad and thought, "Oh wow, let me check that out."
When Samsung first released the flip phone, I saw it in an ad and thought it was great because it folds up and fits nicely in your pocket. I love my Galaxy Flip. The Fold is too big for me. I don't need a phone-sized device that unfolds into a tablet. If I need a tablet, I'll just carry my tablet around. But my little Flip folds down to half the size of a normal phone and opens when I need it. I found that through an ad.
Sometimes I'll see an ad for something and think, "Ooh, I can't wait for that to come out." I see Kickstarter ads all the time, although I've been burned a couple of times buying things from Kickstarter ads, so I generally ignore those now. And I don't buy direct-from-China shipped stuff anymore either. I've had too many problems. I bought a model Enterprise a while back and ended up having to do a credit card chargeback because the company sent me a piece of garbage.
What I usually do is see an ad for something interesting, then go over to Amazon or Walmart and see whether I can buy it from a company I trust.
I actually like ads sometimes, especially entertaining ones. I miss the days when commercials were frivolous and fun to watch, with real production quality, instead of just influencers pimping whatever product sent them a check that week.
Donald Blackwell
@Reply 2 hours ago
As long as the ad is not "IN YOUR FACE" and keeping you from doing what you need/want to do, I don't mind that they exist. Or if they're on a "free" resource such as YouTube or Google Search.
Since I don't watch much TV anymore, it's about the only way I learn about new stuff, or will remind me I need to get more.... But like Richard, I'll see something cool and look for it on Amazon, WalMart, or see if I can find it on one of those ever rarer occasions when I actually go into a store. Or sometimes, I'll specifically go to a store just to see it before buying so I don't have to waste time waiting for it then the hassle of returning. Or if they can get something and manage to sell it at a price that doesn't bankrupt me, if I know someone who has a store, I'll go there to buy some things even if it's a little more just to support a real person or local business versus the giant megacorps - as much.
When ads are truly bad is when you can't get away from them. Such as when you visit a site you're subscribed to and get to read 3 or 4 lines then some garbage pops up blocking the site and doesn't let you close it until either you've clicked to go to the site (sot they can put you in their tracking) or wasted umpteen moments of your time, grrr!!
Kevin Yip
@Reply 77 minutes ago
Richard Ads don't necessarily make you buy, but they still influence you in ways you can't imagine. I turned off personalized ads so that the products I see will never interest me (beauty products, pharmaceuticals, fast food, etc., are the ads I usually see), so that I'm unlikely to be influenced. If you see personalized ads, they always have a chance to get your attention at the minimum, or turn you into a lifetime loyal subject at the max. How many ads do you see every day, and how many products get a shot at you? That's an unsettling thought, because once the advertisers have "got you," it may be for life. Advertisers have done tons of research just to capture consumer loyalty "from womb to tomb," as they call it. Some of us may be able to become immune to (some of) this, but not everyone is, especially young ones. I would be surprised if you allowed your kids to watch ads with no restriction.
John Sahagian
@Reply 58 minutes ago
To limit irrelevant ads, I use an inprivate / incognito browser window.
Then I search on startpage.com.
If you still want my 2 cents, add it to my gold membership.
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