How Search Engines Work Now:

I am by no means an expert on SEO and how search engines work but by doing
a bit of research, courtesy of Home Business magazine, they operate by a method
called "vertical" search. When you search for Blog content, the search engine will
look at Blogs initially and then diversify as you look beyond the first couple of pages.

How Universal Search Will Work:

Universal Search will throw a monkey wrench into that system by searching over
a broader plain. For example, if you put in a search criteria for specified content
on Blogs, "Universal" will scan Blogs, videos, news, and catalogs for relevant
information.



What Will This Mean To The Blogger Or Website Owner:

Blogs and sites and that already optimized for "vertical" search will still be included
in the search results but as "Universal" becomes more common rankings will probably
drop a little where more sites will be included in the initial search. However all the
SEO methods you are using now should remain in place and when Universal Search
comes to a neighborhood near you, a bit of "tweaking" may be in order to maintain
your rankings.

Maintaining Your Rankings when "Universal" Comes To Town:

The best method that is forcasted to overcome a drop in rankings due to the Universal
is what Bloggers are already doing and that is add new "fresh" content on a regular basis.
Websites that are "stale" and don't add some flare and updates will certainly lose ground
to their competitors who are "sprucing up" their sites on a regular basis.

Conclusion:

By trade I am an Aircraft Engineer and "change" is a common occurrence in my profession.
As newer advanced technology replaces a component or aircraft I have been working on
for years I have learned to take the changes in stride and after another "upgrade" course,
hit the books which follows with hands-on experience until I am familiar with the workings
of that new-fangled on board computer or flap control system.

I'll treat Universal Search in the same manner and I shall overcome but I still might sneak
over and visit my favorite Bloggers and see what they are doing.